Rutschman 'very happy' with Triple-A debut

BALTIMORE -- Adley Rutschman’s Triple-A career couldn’t have started much better than it did Tuesday, with MLB’s top overall prospect collecting two hits and catching a one-hit shutout in his debut at Norfolk. Now the question is, how long will he be there?

That speculation will follow Rutschman for as long as he remains one step away from Baltimore. But for now, he’s soaking in the moment.

“You need to celebrate all the small victories, and getting promoted is obviously a huge step,” Rutschman said. “I’m very blessed to be in the position I’m in right now. Very happy to be here and be a step away.”

Rutschman’s promotion follows an excellent stay at Double-A Bowie, where 2019’s top overall pick slashed .271/.392/.508 with 18 home runs, 55 RBIs and nearly as many walks (55) as strikeouts (57) in 80 games. He leads all Orioles Minor Leaguers in home runs, and he drew rave reviews from across the organization for his defensive skills and his ability to work with pitchers.

“In our situation, any time prospects are playing well and advancing, that’s good news,” O’s manager Brandon Hyde said on Tuesday. “It’s good to see him progress through our system and getting closer.”

• Adley's goal? 'Be the best player ... ever'

Rutschman jelled extremely well with No. 2 O's prospect Grayson Rodriguez and No. 4 prospect D.L. Hall during the short time that all three were together at Bowie. He will now will be tasked with catching a Norfolk staff that includes right-hander Mike Baumann (No. 7), righty Kyle Bradish (No. 12) and left-hander Kevin Smith (No. 15), as well as righty Dean Kremer and rising righty reliever Felix Bautista.

“I think the biggest thing with pitchers is just knowing the guys and creating that relationship, and knowing how they want to attack guys, what their strengths, weaknesses are,” Rutschman said. “After each inning, it's a new conversation, new things to be addressed. We're just talking a lot, and those conversations help everyone continue to progress.”

To that end, it’ll be interesting to see how often the Orioles have Rutschman catch at Triple-A as the Tides’ schedule stretches into September and October. They divided his time intentionally at Double-A between catching, first base and designated hitter. With an eye toward his long-term durability, the O's had Rutschman catch three days per week into late June and four times per week until his promotion.

Part of Baltimore's calculus was based on how polished Rutschman’s defensive skills are considered already -- there were scouts saying he could catch in the Majors two years ago. Another part is the known wear and tear of the position and the many high-profile examples of bat-first catchers (Buster Posey, Joe Mauer) who battled injury as they approached their 30s. The O's also want Rutschman to be comfortable playing first base once he reaches the Majors, knowing that the versatility will help keep his bat in the lineup on a day-to-day basis.

“I don't really know my schedule. It’s kind of ‘to be seen’ right now,” he said. “I trust that the Orioles have a plan for me, and they've had a plan for me all year. So I trust whatever they decide to do. It's worked out so far.”

Does that plan include an arrival date? Promoting Rutschman by season’s end would provide a jolt to the fan base at the tail end of Baltimore’s fifth consecutive losing season, and the third in its much-publicized rebuild under general manager Mike Elias. Outside of Elias, Rutschman has been the face of that plan since he was drafted first overall in 2019, signing for a record $8.1 million bonus. He won’t be the first player from the top of his Draft to reach the Majors -- Andrew Vaughn of the White Sox has that distinction -- but he’d also be far from the last, even if he debuts in 2022. Rutschman and Royals top prospect Bobby Witt Jr. are both at Triple-A now after being drafted first and second overall in 2019. The No. 4 pick from that Draft, JJ Bleday, is in Double-A in the Marlins’ system.

Still, it feels like Rutschman will really need to force the Orioles’ hand with his play to appear in the Majors in 2021. Baltimore owns the American League’s worst record and is nowhere near contention. Furthermore, Rutschman isn’t on the 40-man roster and doesn’t need to be shielded from Rule 5 Draft protection this winter. The O’s could keep him at Norfolk through October and start him there in 2022 as well. If so, the issue of starting his service clock will likely linger as a story come Spring Training, especially if Rutschman performs well in camp. They’re also cognizant of the fact that, due to the pandemic, Rutschman, 23, is still in his first full professional season.

"I'm very fortunate to be a part of this organization, so I know they have a plan and I'm just looking forward to kind of seeing how that unfolds,” Rutschman said. “I’ve been feeling good physically. Looking forward to experiencing a new level, new challenges and being a part of a new team in a new place.”