Adley Rutschman established himself as one of Major League Baseball’s top prospects after his incredible college career at Oregon State University. In fact, it was this success that prompted the Baltimore Orioles to select him with the very first pick in the 2019 MLB draft.

Rutschman proved to be a wise choice, as he quickly rose through the minor league ranks, finally making his Manfred Tour debut on May 21, 2022. Since then, he’s been one of the best defensive catchers in Major League Baseball, while adding his two cents in the middle of Baltimore’s offensive lineup.

After amassing an OPS of .807 in his rookie campaign, Rutschman posted an OPS of .809 in 2023. Then, the following year, the slide began, as evidenced by his .709 OPS. At the time, Rutschman was still considered one of the best offensive catchers in MLB, and it was assumed that this was just a rare bad campaign.

But we have to admit that the problem is deeper, as his regression has only intensified, his OPS below the .700 mark being blatant proof. This is clearly not good offensive production, even considering that the catcher’s position is not known for generating much on that side of the ball.

The 27-year-old won’t be free as a bird until 2027, but it’s already legitimate to question his status in Baltimore. Samuel Basallo, recently promoted to the Majors, could expel Rutschman from Maryland, having just signed an eight-year pact worth $67 million.

There’s still plenty of time for Rutschman to turn things around, and a strong final month of the season could bring plenty of optimism about how the star catcher might bounce back in the 2026 campaign.

It should also be noted that the Orioles’ starting catcher has been placed on the injured list with an oblique injury.

This content was created with the help of AI.