Adley Rutschman

2.1.1. College baseball achievements

As a freshman in 2017, Rutschman played in 61 games, recording a batting average of .234, an on-base percentage of .322, and a slugging percentage of .306, along with two home runs and 33 runs batted in (RBI). Following the 2017 season, he further developed his skills by playing collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

His sophomore year in 2018 was a breakout season, as he batted .408 with a .505 on-base percentage and a .628 slugging percentage, hitting nine home runs and driving in 83 RBIs in 67 games. He played a pivotal role in leading Oregon State University to win the 2018 College World Series, securing their third NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. During the College World Series, Rutschman set a record with 17 hits and recorded 13 RBIs, earning him the title of College World Series Most Outstanding Player.

In his junior season in 2019, Rutschman continued his exceptional performance, batting .411 with a .575 on-base percentage and a .751 slugging percentage, while hitting 17 home runs and collecting 58 RBIs in 57 games. His outstanding play earned him numerous accolades, including being named the 2019 Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. In late June of that year, he received the Buster Posey Award, which recognizes the nation's top collegiate catcher. He also won the ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Award for catchers in NCAA Division I.

2.1.2. College football

During his freshman year at Oregon State University, Rutschman also played college football for the Beavers as a placekicker.

2.1.3. 2019 MLB draft

Following his stellar collegiate career, the Baltimore Orioles selected Rutschman as the first overall pick in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Orioles for 8.10 M USD, which was the highest signing bonus ever paid to an MLB draft pick at the time.

3.2.1. Debut and 2022 season

Rutschman was expected to compete for a spot on the Orioles' 2022 Opening Day roster, but he missed the start of the season due to a strained triceps muscle. He began a rehabilitation assignment with Aberdeen on April 26. On May 21, 2022, Rutschman was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut on the same day against the Tampa Bay Rays, starting as catcher and batting sixth in the lineup. Although his first major league at-bat resulted in a strikeout, two at-bats later he recorded his first major league hit, a triple off Ralph Garza. He was the first major leaguer to hit a triple for his first MLB hit since Jason Perry did so for the Atlanta Braves in 2008. On June 15, Rutschman hit his first major league home run off Toronto Blue Jays starter José Berríos.

Rutschman finished the 2022 season playing 113 games with Baltimore, hitting .254/.362/.445 with 35 doubles, 13 home runs, and 42 RBIs. He also demonstrated strong defensive skills, recording a 31% caught stealing rate, which was above the MLB average of 25% for catchers. His impressive performance led to him being voted the winner of the 2022 Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award by local media. He also finished second in voting for the AL Rookie of the Year to Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez, receiving one first-place vote, and placed 12th in the MVP voting.

3.2.2. 2023 season

Rutschman joined the team normally for the 2023 season. On Opening Day, he made history by batting 5-for-5 with a home run, becoming the first MLB player to achieve this feat on Opening Day since 1937. He was selected to his first All-Star Game in 2023 after posting a .273/.376/.423 slash line with 12 home runs in the first half of the season (86 games, 39 RBIs). Rutschman also participated in the 2023 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, where he hit 27 home runs in the first round. As a switch hitter, he notably hit 20 home runs left-handed and 7 home runs right-handed during his derby appearance, but was eliminated by Chicago White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr.'s 28 home runs. On August 10, 2023, Rutschman became the first Oriole to hit a home run over the extended left field wall while batting left-handed, launching a leadoff homer off Houston Astros starter Hunter Brown. Rutschman won the AL Silver Slugger Award among catchers for his offensive contributions. He was also a finalist for the Gold Glove Award at catcher, ultimately losing to Jonah Heim of the Texas Rangers.

3.2.3. 2024 season

On Opening Day 2024, Rutschman became the first player since Joe Lahoud (1968-1972) to reach base safely in at least each of his first eight career plate appearances on Opening Day. He went 2-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored, and two RBIs in Baltimore's 11-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. On April 19, 2024, Rutschman hit his first career grand slam off Kansas City Royals reliever Will Smith. He achieved another career first on June 6, homering from both sides of the plate in a 6-5 away loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. His first home run was a one-out solo shot off Yusei Kikuchi in the sixth inning, followed by a two-out, two-run blast off Zach Pop in the eighth. Three days later, on June 9, he set a career-high with six RBIs in a 9-2 away win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Four of those RBIs came from his second career grand slam, hit off Phil Maton with two outs in the eighth inning.