In a significant development for the Baltimore Orioles, catcher Adley Rutschman was placed on the injured list for the first time in his career due to a strained left oblique. The decision came shortly before the team’s game against the New York Yankees on Saturday, following an MRI that revealed the extent of the injury.
Rutschman, who has been a reliable player for the Orioles, was initially slated to bat as the designated hitter on Friday but had to be scratched after experiencing pain during batting practice. Interim manager Tony Mansolino expressed concern but remained hopeful for a quick recovery, noting Rutschman’s history of durability as a catcher.
This season, Rutschman has had a batting average of .227 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs across 68 games. Encouragingly, he has shown improvement recently, hitting .309 in his last 15 games after struggling with a .182 average in the preceding 25 games. Rutschman was the top overall pick in the 2019 amateur draft and has established himself as a key player for the team, having played 113 games in his debut season in 2022, 154 in 2023, and 148 last season.
To fill the void left by Rutschman, the Orioles have recalled Maverick Handley from the minors. Handley has struggled at the major league level with a batting average of just .075, but he has performed notably better at Triple-A Norfolk, hitting .322 with one home run and five RBIs in 17 games.
The Orioles will need to navigate this challenge effectively, relying on their other players and the depth of their roster as they aim to maintain their competitive edge in the league. Fans and teammates alike remain hopeful for Rutschman’s swift return to the lineup.