The Baltimore Orioles face a growing crisis at the catcher position following an injury to star catcher Adley Rutschman, who has been placed on the injured list with an oblique strain that is expected to keep him out until after the All-Star break. The situation worsened on Sunday when Rutschman’s backup, Maverick Handley, exited the game against the New York Yankees after a frightening collision with Jazz Chisholm Jr. at home plate.
The incident stemmed from a throw home by Colton Cowser that led Handley up the third-base line, leaving him unable to avoid contact with Chisholm Jr. as he attempted to catch the ball. Handley was attended to by the training staff for several minutes, raising concerns that he may have sustained a concussion, which could lead to a stint on the IL as well. This predicament leaves Baltimore in a challenging position, forcing the team to reconsider their previous plans regarding top prospect Samuel Basallo.
With both Rutschman and Handley sidelined, the Orioles have turned to Gary Sánchez, who has primarily served as a designated hitter in recent years but possesses catching experience from his time with the Yankees. While Sánchez can fill in for a game or two, he is not seen as a long-term solution. Reports indicate that the O’s may have no choice but to call up Samuel Basallo from Triple-A, where he has been excelling as MLB Pipeline’s number 15 overall prospect. Initially, the team was reluctant to rush him to the Majors, but the current dire situation may necessitate that decision.
In the interim, Baltimore could also consider promoting Chadwick Tromp, who has some Major League experience, to fill the gap. However, even with this solution, the Orioles might find themselves with one of the weakest catching situations in the league, a concerning issue as they strive to remain competitive and aim for a postseason berth.
As the Orioles navigate this difficult period, there is hope that the return of injured players and the eventual arrival of prospects like Basallo can reinvigorate the team’s performance moving forward.