Yankees' new catcher is absolutely jacked

There may not be a jersey big enough

March 14th, 2022
Photo via Brace Hemmelgarn, Twins photographer

The Yankees and Twins pulled off a huge trade on Sunday night -- the highlights seeming to be Minnesota getting Gary Sánchez and Gio Urshela, with New York acquiring Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

But the Yanks also got another big piece that may have slipped under the radar. And we'd like to put a major emphasis on big because, well, just look at this dude.

That's 24-year-old catcher Ben Rortvedt. He was rated the best defensive catcher in the Twins' system last season, he's an exceptional framer and some scouts believe he may eventually have 20-HR power. And yes, as you could probably see from outer space, he is exceedingly yoked.

His powerful, lefty swing could fit in perfectly at Yankee Stadium as he develops, or, like his first MLB homer, he can always crank one 417 feet the other way.

Although he does work hard in the gym, many Twins coaches and teammates believed that Rortvedt was just born this way. You know, like Superman. MLB.com's Do-Hyoung Park did a full profile on the catcher's biceps last year and reliever Tyler Duffey gave the only plausible explanation.

"We were actually just talking about this," Duffey said. "It's not like he's doing some ungodly amount of weights. He was just touched by God and is gifted in what he's got."