Baltimore Orioles’ Adley Rutschman Comments on Home Run After Yankees Game

Baltimore Orioles’ Adley Rutschman Comments on Home Run After Yankees Game

Baltimore Orioles switch-hitting catcher Adley Rutschman is putting together a very strong season. The first overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Oregon State, Rutschman burst onto the scene in 2022 when he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting and 12th in American League MVP voting. He appeared in 113 games that season, posting a 131 OPS+ while being one of the best defensive catchers in the game.

Rutschman maintained this offensive production in 2023, earning his first All-Star appearance, Silver Slugger Award, and top-10 MVP finish. His OPS+ actually took a slight step backwards that season, as it moved to 128, but he hit 20 home runs, drove in 80 RBIs, and hit .277 while being elite defensively.

When Rutschman made the All-Star team again in 2024, it really seemed as if he was fully establishing himself as the superstar catcher Baltimore took first overall five years prior. But the second half of that season told a completely different story. After a five-hit game against the Houston Astros on June 21, 2024, Rutschman hit just .192 the rest of the season. His OPS was .574 across 317 plate appearances during that stretch, and it began what was an extended period of unusual struggles for the switch-hitting catcher.

These struggles lasted all of 2025, when Rutschman battled injuries, appearing in just 90 games while posting a career-worst .673 OPS. There was obvious concern in Baltimore that something had flipped for the two-time All-Star, but by all accounts, he seems to be back.

Through 28 games this season, Rutschman has a career-best .893 OPS, which translates to an elite 151 OPS+. His .291 batting average is also a career high, as is his .553 slugging percentage, which is really what stands out. Prior to this season, Rutschman’s career-best slugging percentage came in his rookie season when he posted a .445 mark. Already with 57 total bases, Rutschman is not only among the best hitting catchers in baseball this season, but one of the best all-around offensive players.

Homering against the New York Yankees on Wednesday, Rutschman said after the game he actually wasn't sure he even got it.