This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Receiving first day off of season
Rotowire
Rutschman is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins.
With Baltimore closing out its season-opening series against the Twins with a day game, Rutschman will rest after starting the first two contests. Samuel Basallo will fill in for Rutschman at catcher.
Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Productive start in spring training
Rotowire
Rutschman went 2-for-2 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.
It was the first big fly of spring training for Rutschman, who's now gone 4-for-15 (.267) with a double and two walks over his first 15 at-bats of the spring. The switch-hitting backstop was a big disappointment in 2025, as evidenced by a career-worst .673 OPS across 365 regular-season plate appearances, but Rutschman is all set to reprise his role as Baltimore's top catcher in 2026. Although top prospect Samuel Basallo (abdomen) does present some competition for action behind the dish, he's more likely to serve as the Orioles' primary designated hitter.
Rutschman agreed to a one-year, $7.25 million contract with the Orioles on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Much like the Orioles as a whole, Rutschman is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw him finish with just nine home runs and a .220/.307.673 slash line in 90 games. Top prospect Samuel Basallo made his MLB debut down the stretch last year and inked a massive extension in August, which is likely to cut into Rutschman's playing time behind the plate in 2026. However, Rutschman is still expected to operate as the primary catcher, with Basallo set to see significant action at designated hitter.
0:47
0:52
0:41
1:03
15:21
0:58
11:34
1:12
0:54
10:19
8:58
12:52
9:04
0:38
1:33
8:56
1:02
9:12
10:13
11:48
