Birds continue taking baby steps
Rutschman, Hall called up to Triple-A Norfolk as they arrive just 1 step away from Baltimore
Top Orioles prospects Adley Rutschman and DL Hall will join Triple-A Norfolk during a road series in Nashville on Friday, the Tides announced, continuing their progression towards the majors.
Rutschman, the top-ranked prospect in baseball, was on track to begin the season on the major league roster with the Orioles before a right tricep strain early in spring train
ing sidelined him. The catcher reported to High-A Aberdeen late last month for a rehabilitation assignment, playing four games, before moving to Double-A Bowie.
With the Baysox, Rutschman played three games. Across both levels, the first overall pick in the 2019 draft is hitting .440 with a 1.157 OPS. He’s arriving again in Triple-A, where he excelled in 2021; Rutschman hit .312 for the Tides in 43 games.
Triple-A Norfolk manager Buck Britton told The Baltimore Sun that Rutschman won’t catch every day. He predicts the 24-year-old backstop will receive one day off during the week, and he’ll feature as the designated hitter on other occasions to lighten his workload.
“You don’t want to burn this guy out down here,” Britton said. “He’s going to play some important innings up in the big leagues here soon. We’ve gotta make sure we keep him healthy, keep him on the field, but also allow him to get the work in behind the plate.”
Hall is reaching the Triple-A level for the first time in his career. The left-handed starter’s 2021 campaign ended prematurely when he suffered a stress reaction in his left elbow, and he remained in Florida working at the extended spring training facility after camp broke. Hall then joined Rutschman in High-A, where he struck out six batters and allowed two hits in four scoreless innings.
Hall took the mound Thursday for Bowie and lasted 3 ⅔ innings, striking out six before running into trouble later in his outing. The 23-year-old allowed two runs on three hits.
Britton said Hall is the type of pitcher who wants the ball for nine innings. But as he is built back up after his injury, the organization will be cautious against overexerting the 2017 first-round pick. Hall currently is on a four-inning limit, with one more inning thrown in the bullpen once he’s finished on the mound. He could stay in that range for the immediate future.
“The stuff jumps off the charts,” Britton said. “You’ve got a lefty that throws 100 mph. I was fortunate enough to see DL in 2017
or so in Delmarva, so I’ve gotten to see him grow in his process heading toward the big leagues. Just really proud of what he’s been able to do. This is a guy now that’s filling up the strike zone with electric stuff, and I’m looking forward to see him being challenged with more polished hitters. But the stuff is elite.”
The duo will arrive in Nashville in time for Friday’s game against the Sounds, and Rutschman is expected to be in the lineup. Britton coached both players earlier in their
careers, including last season at Double-A Bowie. For however long they’re under his authority in Norfolk, he’ll enjoy it.
“The best part of it is the human beings they are, man,” Britton said. “I just really enjoy being around both of them. So as much as they are talented, they’re great people to have around. We get along really well. They bring some energy to the clubhouse. I think it’s exciting on a lot of fronts. Knowing what I’m going to get out of both of those guys is nice, too.”