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Adley Rutschman has rebounded in a big way this year for the Baltimore Orioles. After an underwhelming 2025 season, the 28-year-old catcher has proven last year was an outlier.
Across 51 games, Rutschman has posted a .265 batting average, .343 on-base percentage, .824 OPS, eight home runs and 40 RBIs. He has also continued to play excellent defense behind the plate.
He has largely been available this year, although he did spend some time on the 10-day injured list with left ankle inflammation. Still, this is exactly the season Orioles fans had hoped to see from the former Silver Slugger and two-time All-Star. Rutschman and his teammate Samuel Basallo have formed the most dangerous catching duo in MLB.
Unfortunately for Rutschman, his efforts may go unrecognized at the All-Star Game. MLB released the first round of American League All-Star voting, and the results were disappointing.
Rutschman currently sits third among catchers with 261,607 votes, putting him outside of Phase 2 contention for now. He trails Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, who has collected 298,401 votes.
Kirk is a talented catcher and perhaps just as accomplished as Rutschman overall, but Kirk has played just seven games this year due to a left thumb injury, while Rutschman has appeared in 51 games and provided the Orioles with consistent production all season.
He clearly deserves the recognition more based on this year alone. Unfortunately, this has become a familiar theme on the American League ballot, as Blue Jays fans have rallied behind their team regardless of on-field results. The excitement surrounding Toronto's 2025 World Series run has carried over into this year's voting.
There is still time for Rutschman to surpass Kirk and advance to Phase 2 as he deserves, but for now he sits on the outside looking in. If he does not manage to close the gap, he will still have a path to the team through the Player Ballot.
A selection would mark his third career All-Star nod, though Rutschman is probably not too focused on where he stands in the voting right now. His more pressing concern is helping the Orioles get back on track, as Baltimore currently owns a 34-39 record. The club has not come close to meeting the expectations set for this roster heading into the season after a busy offseason. Staying productive and helping the team win is Rutschman's No. 1 priority.
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Across 51 games, Rutschman has posted a .265 batting average, .343 on-base percentage, .824 OPS, eight home runs and 40 RBIs. He has also continued to play excellent defense behind the plate.
He has largely been available this year, although he did spend some time on the 10-day injured list with left ankle inflammation. Still, this is exactly the season Orioles fans had hoped to see from the former Silver Slugger and two-time All-Star. Rutschman and his teammate Samuel Basallo have formed the most dangerous catching duo in MLB.
Unfortunately for Rutschman, his efforts may go unrecognized at the All-Star Game. MLB released the first round of American League All-Star voting, and the results were disappointing.
Rutschman currently sits third among catchers with 261,607 votes, putting him outside of Phase 2 contention for now. He trails Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk, who has collected 298,401 votes.
Kirk is a talented catcher and perhaps just as accomplished as Rutschman overall, but Kirk has played just seven games this year due to a left thumb injury, while Rutschman has appeared in 51 games and provided the Orioles with consistent production all season.
He clearly deserves the recognition more based on this year alone. Unfortunately, this has become a familiar theme on the American League ballot, as Blue Jays fans have rallied behind their team regardless of on-field results. The excitement surrounding Toronto's 2025 World Series run has carried over into this year's voting.
There is still time for Rutschman to surpass Kirk and advance to Phase 2 as he deserves, but for now he sits on the outside looking in. If he does not manage to close the gap, he will still have a path to the team through the Player Ballot.
A selection would mark his third career All-Star nod, though Rutschman is probably not too focused on where he stands in the voting right now. His more pressing concern is helping the Orioles get back on track, as Baltimore currently owns a 34-39 record. The club has not come close to meeting the expectations set for this roster heading into the season after a busy offseason. Staying productive and helping the team win is Rutschman's No. 1 priority.
Continue reading...
