Rutschman triples & walks in MLB debut

May 21: First MLB knock is a triple
New league, same Adley Rutschman. MLB Pipeline's top overall prospect wasted no time introducing himself, as Rutschman laced a triple and worked a walk in his first MLB game against the Rays. His triple came in his penultimate at-bat in the seventh inning and was only his fourth triple in professional baseball. He's in good company with his triple as well, as former O's top prospects Matt Wieters and Manny Machado also got their first knocks on a three-bagger. Full story ?

May 21: Rutschman gets called up to the Majors
The wait is over, Adley Rutschman has arrived. The Orioles promoted baseball’s top overall prospect, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated big league debuts in recent memory and marking a milestone in the franchise’s rebuilding efforts. Full story ?

May 20: O's will call up Rutschman 'when he's ready'
The excitement for Adley Rutschman in Baltimore is growing by the day. All the while, the club reaffirms that the top prospect in baseball will be called up for his debut only "when [the organization] feel like he's ready" -- not because of any trends at the Major League level. Full story ?

May 19: Drives in run
Adley Rutschman drove in a run on an infield single to the left side during the sixth inning of Triple-A Norfolk's 9-6 loss to Charlotte on Thursday. He went 1-for-4 overall on the night and caught all nine innings. Gameday ?

May 18: Rutschman homers in back-to-back games
Adley Rutschman hit his third homer of the year, and second in two games Wednesday, crushing a two-run shot to left field during the seventh inning of Triple-A Norfolk's 8-7 win over Charlotte. Overall, he went 2-for-4 at the dish with a single, walk and two runs scored. Gameday ?

May 17: Swats two-run homer for second of the year
Adley Rutschman made sure to get all of his second homer of the year, blasting a two-run shot that clocked in with a 112.6 mph exit velocity. Overall, he went 1-for-4 at the dish. Behind the plate, he guided Orioles No. 2 prospect Grayson Rodriguez to an incredible start, as he had 11 strikeouts in 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Full story ?

May 15: Q&A: 'Trying to stay present here'
NORFOLK, Va. -- Adley Rutschman doesn’t know when he’ll be called up. He doesn’t know what his first Major League at-bat will be like, and he isn’t thinking too hard about it just yet. You’d be hard-pressed to find a Minor Leaguer more focused on the immediate present than MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 overall prospect.

Here’s what Rutschman does know. He’s fully healthy after a right triceps injury delayed the start to his season. He’s happy to be in a loaded Orioles system that includes current Triple-A Norfolk teammates and fellow Top 100 prospects Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall. And he enjoys the odd crab cake. Full story ?

May 15: Doesn't reach base Sunday
Adley Rutschman went 0-for-4 for Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday. It was only his second game this season without a hit or a walk. Rutschman has a .194/.359/.290 slash line through 31 at-bats with the Tides this season. Gameday ?

May 14: Walks in quiet night
Adley Rutschman walked in the third inning of Triple-A Norfolk's 7-2 loss to Memphis on Saturday. Overall, the No. 2 prospect in baseball went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Gameday ?

May 13: Get first multi-hit game with Norfolk this season
Adley Rutschman did a little bit of everything on Friday, tallying two hits and driving in a run in his first multi-hit game with Triple-A Norfolk this season. Overall, he went 2-for-4 with a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning. His late RBI wasn't enough for the Tides, though, as Norfolk fell to Memphis, 4-2. Gameday ?

May 12: Rutschman on the board with first HR of season
Rutschman hit a solo home run to right field during the seventh inning of Triple-A Norfolk's 5-2 loss to Memphis on Thursday, his first of the year for the Tides. The No. 2 prospect in baseball also caught all nine innings. Full story ?

May 11: Hitless for second straight night
Adley Rutschman couldn't get it going again on Wednesday, as the 24-year-old went 0-for-4 at the dish. He did work a walk, but other than that, there was nothing notable for Rutschman. Gameday ?

May 10: Rutschman quiet on Tuesday
Rutschman went 0-for-2 with a walk during Triple-A Norfolk's 6-1 win against Memphis Tuesday. The 24-year-old catcher spent all nine innings behind the dish for the Tides. Gameday ?

May 7: Rutschman singles in second Triple-A game
Rutschman hit a line drive up the middle for a single during Triple-A Norfolk's 1-0 loss to Nashville Saturday, going 1-for-4 overall on the night. The No. 2 prospect in baseball also caught all nine innings, a good sign for him moving forward. Gameday ?

May 6: Rutschman makes 2022 Triple-A debut
Rutschman appeared in his first game with Triple-A Norfolk Friday night, going 1-for-3 with a single, walk, hit-by-pitch and a run scored. The No. 2 prospect in baseball played all nine innings at first base for the Tides. If all goes well, Rutschman is likely to make it up to the Majors before the end of May. Gameday ?

May 5: Rutschman headed to Triple-A
Rutschman was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk after Thursday's game in Bowie and is expected to be in the Tides lineup on Friday. The callup brings him one step away from the big leagues and near the end of his rehab tour from a right triceps strain. Rutschman is likely to make it up to the Majors before the end of May. Full story ?

The No. 2 prospect in baseball had two hits, a run scored and a walk in five trips to the plate during Bowie's 6-1 loss to Harrisburg. Rutschman is hitting 11-for-25 (.440) with a .517 on-base percentage through his first seven rehab games, lining up at catcher four times and designated hitter for three. Thursday was his second time catching all nine innings in a span of three days. Gameday ?

May 4: Fills up stat sheet in big game
It's pretty safe to say Adley Rutschman is getting his groove back. In his second game with Double-A Bowie this season, Rutschman filled up the score sheet with two RBIs, two runs scored, two hits and a walk in five plate appearances. His two ribbies came on a fourth-inning single, while his next hit was a double in the seventh, his second double in as many games with the Baysox. Through six games between Double-A and High-A, Rutschman is batting .429 with a 1.167 OPS. Gameday ?

May 3: Doubles, scores twice in '22 Double-A debut
Adley Rutschman wasted no time getting up to speed in Double-A, smacking a double a scoring two runs in his first game for Bowie this season. The No. 2 prospect in baseball went 1-for-4 at the dish, striking out once, as the Baysox fell to Harrisburg, 6-5. Gameday ?

May 1: Rutschman to continue rehab in Bowie
Baseball's No. 2 prospect is moving on up.

After a stellar season debut in which he went 6-for-13 over four games with High-A Aberdeen, Adley Rutschman will continue his road back from a right triceps strain with Double-A Bowie beginning on May 3, the Baysox announced. Rutschman will make the climb along with fifth-ranked Orioles prospect (No. 88 overall), left-handed pitcher D.L. Hall, according to Bowie. Hall is recovering from a stress reaction in his left elbow that ended his 2021 season in mid-June.

Rutschman finished his brief stint with the IronBirds with a .462/.533/.692 slash line and ended on his best note, going 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles on April 30. He walked twice without a strikeout and scored a pair of runs.

Over three Minor League seasons, Rutschman boasts a career slash line of 282/.390/.489 with 27 homers and 101 RBIs in 164 games across six levels.

April 30: Rutschman has first four-hit game since 2019
Prior to his current rehab stint for a right triceps strain, Adley Rutschman hadn’t played in A-ball since his professional debut season in 2019. Four games in, and his second tour of High-A is going as expected.

“I’m feeling great. Just excited to be back," said Rutschman over the phone after the game. “It’s crucial to get back in the swing of things, be able to see pitches, get your timing, and just be able to have competitive ABs again in game situations.” Full story ?

April 29: Rutschman singles, walks on Friday
Rutschman was behind the dish during High-A Aberdeen's 6-1 win against Jersey Shore on Friday. The 24-year-old catcher went 1-for-2 with a single and a walk in three plate appearances. Through three games of his rehab assignment, MLB's No. 2 prospect is 2-for-8 with a pair of walks. Gameday ?

April 27: Hitless in second game of '22
Serving as High-A Aberdeen's DH on Wednesday, Adley Rutschman couldn't replicate the magic from his season debut, as he went 0-for-4 at the dish. In just his second game of his rehab assignment, there is no reason to be concerned for MLB's No. 2 prospect. Gameday ?

April 26: Rutschman doubles, scores in '22 debut
Adley Rutschman, who had been sidelined since the beginning of the season with a right triceps strain, made his 2022 regular season debut for High-A Aberdeen Tuesday. Rutschman went 1-for-2 with a double down the right-field line, a line out to left field, a walk and a run scored. The 24-year-old catcher spent five innings behind the plate before being pulled for a defensive replacement in the top of the sixth. Orioles fans — get excited. Rutschman should be in the big leagues soon. Gameday >

Rutschman to start rehab assignment with Aberdeen (April 24)
The wait is over. Almost. Adley Rutschman, who has been sidelined through the beginning of the season with a right triceps strain, is slated to begin a rehab assignment with High-A Aberdeen in the coming week. The IronBirds are scheduled to start a six-game series at home against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (a Phillies affiliate) on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old catcher entered 2022 as MLB's No. 2 prospect after he batted .285/.397/.502 while continuing to develop as an elite defender behind the plate between Double-A Bowie and Norfolk last year. -- Josh Jackson

Rutschman's return to game action is "very soon" (April 17)
Speaking to play-by-play voice Kevin Brown on the MASN broadcast, Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said on April 15 that Adley Rutschman's return to game action could be "very soon." The club will want Rutschman (right triceps strain) to return to full baseball activities -- "normal, everyday play" -- before he sees game action with a Minor League affiliate, but his rehab at extended Spring Training in Florida is going "very smoothly."

Once Rutschman lands with an affiliate, the focus will be on regaining his timing. After that's accomplished, a much-anticipated debut won't be far off.

"Once we see that [he's] back to the player we had at the beginning of Spring Training, when he has poised to impact the roster -- I think that's all going to happen very quickly," Elias said. "On a week-to-week basis, we're going to keep an eye on how it's going with him, and the sooner he gets back into his timing, I think the sooner he's going to make the team. He's doing very well in coming back from the injury, and he was looking better than ever prior to the injury. It was just really as bad of timing as you can have."

Rutschman has advanced to taking batting practice off coaches, a continuation of his hitting progression. Throwing remains in progress, too, but that appears to be a more fickle progression given the nature of the right triceps strain that impacts his elbow. -- Zachary Silver

Rutschman continues to progress, taking part in coach BP (April 13)
Without much in the way of a firm update on Adley Rutschman, and without a concrete timeline update, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde did reveal that Rutschman has progressed to taking batting practice off coaches at the Orioles' facilities in Florida, marking a step forward from the tee work he had been doing as of last update. Rutschman continues the overall progression from the right triceps strain he sustained at the outset of Spring Training, continuing with the cautious approach the club has laid out for him.

"Improving every day, swinging the bat, taking coaches' BP, doing the throwing progression," Hyde said. "All that's going extremely well."

Next for Rutschman would be facing live pitching, and then getting into some sort of game action. The Orioles have not provided a timeline for such developments, but executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said before Opening Day that the hope would be for Rutschman to get into some sort of games before the end of April. That would take place at a Minor League affiliate, and it remains to be seen if that's immediately at Triple-A Norfolk, where Rutschman was slated to start the season, or at a lower-level affiliate.

Rutschman was placed on the injured list at Norfolk in recent days, but that was a paper move more than a concrete signal of his progression. -- Zachary Silver

Elias: When Rutschman is healthy, MLB debut may not be far away (April 7)
Speaking with reporters ahead of Opening Day in St. Petersburg, Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said that Adley Rutschman had "an inside track to make the team" before the right triceps strain shut him down at the outset of Major League Spring Training.

That serves as the strongest indicator from the organization yet on Rutschman's standing when it comes to his much-awaited debut. But even more encouraging was the tenor Elias used later.

"As soon as he kind of returns to being a full-activity version of himself, and we understand that his timing's back, I think he's going to pick right back up where he left off, which was with a very clear shot to impact this team," Elias said.

That seems to infer that Rutschman's debut could come shortly after he returns to full health. The 24-year-old top prospect has only recently resumed full baseball activities after a two-plus week shutdown that started in mid-March. Rutschman remains rehabbing in at extended Spring Training in Florida with others, and once he is cleared for game action will be ramped up at a Minor League affiliate.

And Camden Yards could soon come calling.

"It really stinks that that happened, but it could have been worse," Elias said from the O's Minor League facilities in Twin Lakes, Fla. "He's doing well. He was here working out today and things continue to be on a smooth upward path. But we still have some benchmarks to check before sending him out to affiliated play." -- Zachary Silver

Rutschman ruled out for Major and Minor League Opening Day (April 3)
Adley Rutschman's long awaited return to baseball activities has taken place, but the top prospect will need to wait longer than Opening Day for a return to game action, executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said. That goes for Major League Opening Day on Friday and Triple-A's on Tuesday. More >

Rutschman's catching workouts hit the main field (March 31)
Adley Rutschman is yet to throw or swing a bat in his return from a right triceps strain, but his resumption of light catching activities appeared to take a step forward on March 31. Before the club traveled to Bradenton, Fla., Rutschman was on the field at Ed Smith Stadium in full catching gear, receiving relay throws from outfielders at home plate. Rutschman had been said to resume catching some pitchers on the back fields, but he did not throw on Thursday.

The club has promised a cautious approach in returning Rutschman to baseball activities after he sustained the injury on March 11 (which was then unveiled on March 16). The prognosis then was a two-week shutdown from throwing and hitting, which would have pegged him for some sort of return to full activities by the end of March, but that hasn't appeared to take place quite yet. Instead, time is ticking for Rutschman to get into a Grapefruit League game before camp breaks on April 6, let alone be ready for Triple-A Opening Day on April 5. -- Zachary Silver

Rutschman (right triceps) taking part in catching workouts (March 25)
Still about a week away from any formal baseball activities, Adley Rutschman (right triceps strain) has resumed some catching workouts as he attempts to keep his lower body in shape, manager Brandon Hyde said. That's been limited to receiving baseballs, Hyde said, no throwing, hitting or anything to test his right arm. But it's a good sign that he is progressing in the right direction.

The club is hopeful that whenever Rutschman does resume full baseball activities, the ramp-up won't be as long. Since he's not on the 40-man roster, Rutschman took part in Minor League camp prior to the start of Grapefruit League action where he faced live pitching in intrasquad action, so there's optimism he'll come back from the injury still sharp. But the club will exert extreme caution in bringing him back to game speed, now likely to start the year in the Minors before a callup. The biggest question is if he'll be ready for Triple-A Opening Day on April 5. -- Zachary Silver

Elias not ready to rule out Rutschman for start of year (March 23)
The good news is that Adley Rutschman continues to improve from the right triceps injury that sidelined him right when Major League camp opened. The even better news is that executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias was not ready to rule out his top prospect for the start of the Minor League season on April 5.

Rutschman is still shut down from baseball activities, but he could resume some of his progressions before the end of March. Even so, it's incredibly unlikely the O's will usher him straight to the big leagues for his debut -- something that was far from certain even before his injury. But it's positive that starting the year on time remains a possibility.

"If this dissipates rapidly, we want him out there," Elias said. "… I know he's really bummed that this happened literally right when the big leaguers were showing up, but we're taking the long view with him."

Still, the timing of this injury, given that Rutschman appears on the verge of his callup and that it came right when Major League camp was set to open, is unfortunate. Rutschman got plenty of ramp-up activity during Minor League camp, but the club will want him to get enough in-game experience before any sort of callup. There's little thought that the early, extended action Rutschman got in Florida led to this injury.

"He was really playing his ass off in the early camp, so the timing of this stinks," Elias said. "… Now we're in the process of letting that fully calm down and flush out before we put him back out there. But obviously, it's something that we're going to be professional about doing the right thing and pacing properly. But he is trending well. … I think it's more weeks and days still with with regard to him joining game action." -- Zachary Silver

Rutschman (triceps) progressing well, remains on same track (March 21)
While top prospect Adley Rutschman has yet to resume any baseball activities, he's progressing well in this period of rest as he recovers from the right triceps strain he endured at the outset of camp. Manager Brandon Hyde said that Rutschman, while yet to throw or hit (as expected), is feeling better and focusing on lower-body conditioning. Rutschman has been more present around the team, on-field for some Grapefruit League game warmups, but hasn't strayed from simply shagging balls thrown into the infield.

"Making a lot of progress," Hyde said. "Happy with how it's coming along. … Strength guys are really happy with the progress he's making."

While all positive, the news does not change Rutschman's initial timeline, which was prescribed as a two-week period of rest and then a third week that will restart some of his hitting, throwing and catching progressions in the March 28-30 timeframe. It was far from a certainty that Rutschman would make the Opening Day lineup before the injury, and this flare-up, despite its progress, seems to make it so the focus is more on health for the Minor League season, though his debut could very possibly be delayed there, too. -- Zachary Silver