CHICAGO, Ill. — A familiar face with strong New Glarus ties has returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers at one of the most important positions on the field.

Catcher Ben Rortvedt, whose mother and stepfather, Kim and Joe O’Leksy, live in New Glarus, was reacquired from the New York Mets on Monday during the final hours before Major League Baseball’s trade deadline. The Dodgers sent right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott to New York in the deal.

Less than 24 hours later, Rortvedt was placed in the starting lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He was the catcher for Tarik Skubal, the two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, as Skubal was also making his Dodgers debut.

For New Glarus baseball fans, the pairing creates an unusual local connection to one of the most closely watched pitching debuts of the season. Skubal is widely considered one of baseball’s best pitchers and was the centerpiece of the Dodgers’ deadline activity.