Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman one step away from majors

As the Baltimore Orioles limp to the finish line of what has been another mediocre season, the fans are once again looking ahead. It is another year of dreaming of top prospects, hoping that some of the pitchers will develop and take that next step, and waiting for the reinforcements to arrive.

One of those awaited prospects is getting closer to making his major league debut. Adley Rutschman is one step away from Baltimore, having been promoted to Triple-A.

Baltimore Orioles bring Adley Rutschman closer

Rutschman clearly had nothing left to prove in Double-A. He had produced an excellent .271/.392/.508 batting line in his 358 plate appearances, hitting 16 doubles and 18 homers. While he has not been throwing out baserunners at the same ridiculous rate he was in 2019, he has gunned down 28% of would-be basestealers thus far.

The new top overall prospect in baseball, it is easy to see why Rutschman generates this much excitement. A switch hitting catcher, he hits the ball hard to all fields while generating impressive power. His tape measure homers capture the attention, and are must watch videos on the highlight reels.

However, that does not mean a 2021 debut is necessarily in the cards. While it would make some sense for Rutschman to get a taste of the majors in September, the Orioles may look to have him get his feet wet for the month, returning to Triple-A to start the 2022 season with an eye towards a callup in May.

Plans can change. Rutschman may force the Orioles’ hand, especially if he dominates in Triple-A. Considering that the Orioles have not had much production from the catcher spot, a strong performance could lead to that September callup to see if he can be the answer at the start of the 2022 season.

Adley Rutschman is one step closer to the majors. While he may not debut with the Baltimore Orioles this year, his time is coming.