Top prospect Rutschman progressing in recovery
Catcher now doing light throwing, tee work
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Orioles have yet to officially rule out top prospect Adley Rutschman from their season-opening roster, but even with manager Brandon Hyde on Sunday reporting progress in the 24-year-old catcher’s work toward a return from a right tricep strain, such a debut appears to be a long shot.
Having been limited to receiving work, Rutschman has started doing some light throwing and hitting off a tee from both sides of the plate, beginning his progression after a shutdown period of about two weeks. Hyde said he did not know how long Rutschman’s build-up program would take. But given the season begins Friday and he hasn’t faced a pitcher since a minor league intrasquad game March 11, Rutschman breaking camp with the Orioles is remarkably unlikely.
That doesn’t mean he hasn’t benefited from the past three weeks.
“In everything we do, he’s been involved,” Hyde said. “Maybe not much from running the drill, but he stands there and he’s been in every single meeting. Whenever we do any sort of fundamental [drill] or anything on the field, he’s right there. He’s not fully involved yet. He’s trying to soak in as much as he possibly can without being able to participate.”
Rutschman entered camp as a nonroster invitee positioned to compete to be Baltimore’s starting catcher after a productive season between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. Drafted first overall in 2019, Rutschman ranks as the sport’s top prospect, according to Baseball America.
Other organizations’ top prospects with similar stature to Rutschman could beat
him to the majors. Saturday, the Detroit Tigers announced first baseman Spencer Torkelson, drafted with the No. 1 pick a year after Rutschman, will be on their roster to begin the season. Infielder Bobby Witt Jr., selected second overall behind Rutschman, is a strong candidate to break camp with the Kansas City Royals.
A pair of outfielders absent from the Orioles’ lineup in recent days could both rejoin Monday.
Austin Hays, expected to be Baltimore’s starting left fielder, hasn’t played since Thursday. The next day, his wife, Samantha, had the couple’s second son, Hayden.
DJ Stewart, contending for a spot on the Orioles’ bench, hasn’t played since March 23 after taking a 96 mph fastball off his left hand, suffering a bruised ring finger knuckle. Stewart stayed in Sarasota to get at-bats against Orioles pitchers on the Ed Smith Stadium backfields, with hopes that he can show enough in the final three exhibitions to make the team.
“Gonna try to get him in as many games in here to the end,” Hyde said. “He’s gonna take a ton of at-bats today. He took some yesterday, felt great this morning. We decided to have him take even more at-bats back there today, just kind of controlled, and he’ll probably take
more back there than he could in a game today here. That goes well, he’ll be in there tomorrow.”