BALTIMORE -- Adley Rutschman has only one way to describe the Orioles’ 2025 season.
“It’s been frustrating. It’s been really frustrating,” Rutschman said. “I think that’s kind of the word that it seems everyone’s going back to.”
It became even more frustrating for Rutschman earlier this week, as the 27-year-old catcher hit the injured list for only the second time in his four-year MLB career due to a right oblique strain. The two-time All-Star was previously on the IL from June 20-July 8 with a left oblique strain.
Rutschman, who returned to the IL on Thursday (a move retroactive to Monday), is “more optimistic” this time that his IL stint might not be as lengthy. He also believes his season isn’t over, and he’ll return in time to try to boost his numbers (a .227/.310/.373 slash line with nine homers and 29 RBIs through 85 games).
“That’s the plan,” Rutschman said, “and I’m working as hard as I can to come back as soon as possible.”
Although Rutschman is among 14 players on Baltimore’s injured list, he has been at Camden Yards this weekend rehabbing. So he was among the members of the team to attend Saturday’s press conference celebrating fellow catcher Samuel Basallo, who signed an eight-year, $67 million contract extension on Friday.
Many members of the Orioles were in the room as Basallo (the club’s No. 1 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 overall) spoke about his long-term commitment to the franchise.
“I think everyone wanted to be there, just kind of from the standpoint of we’re happy for him and what an exciting day for him and his family and everyone who’s kind of been with him on that journey,” Rutschman said. “Just a very cool moment to be a part of, and I think we all wanted to see that and just support him.”
There has been some buzz regarding how Basallo’s extension affects Rutschman, who will be entering his second year of arbitration and is under contract only through the 2027 season. But the reality is that it shouldn’t -- there’s easily room for both.
Before Rutschman went on the IL, the plan was for him and Basallo to split catching duties and for both to factor into the rotation at designated hitter. Basallo can also play first base, and the 21-year-old was expected to spend some time there prior to Rutschman’s injury.
Baltimore also loaded up on catchers during the 2025 MLB Draft, taking Ike Irish (the club’s No. 2 prospect) in the first round and Caden Bodine (No. 10) with a compensation pick at No. 30. But Irish has caught only three innings in nine games since making his professional debut with Single-A Delmarva, mostly rotating between first, DH and right field.
General manager Mike Elias doesn’t view a catching surplus as a negative thing.
“From my point of view, the more, the merrier when it comes to good players,” Elias said. “We’ve got a lot of guys here, Samuel included, who are really good athletes who can play multiple positions. And the fact that we have multiple great catchers is a good thing, and we’re going to be able to put guys at DH and first base and share those at-bats.
“So we’ve got a roster that has flexibility. We have a lot of good hitters. And we’ll continue to figure out ways to include as many good players and great hitters into the lineup that we can.”
Basallo doesn’t have much big league tenure yet. He debuted Aug. 17 in Houston, then went 5-for-21 (.238) with two doubles and five RBIs over his first six games before starting at DH in Sunday’s series finale vs. the Astros.
It wasn’t too long ago that Rutschman was in Basallo’s spot, and he knows how daunting it can be. That’s why Rutschman is eager to assist -- along with bench coach/former catcher Robinson Chirinos and backup backstop Alex Jackson -- in any way he can.
“I’m here to help,” Rutschman said. “We’ve got Robby and me and A-Jax, so a lot of good people around. I know how I felt when I was a rookie and coming up, and it can be a lot. But I’m just here to help out as much as possible and trying to help him get accustomed to everything going on in the big leagues.”
Basallo’s new deal could be the first of several to come, as the Orioles have plenty of prime extension candidates. That includes Rutschman, who did not comment when asked whether it’s something he has considered and instead restated his praise for Basallo.
But Rutschman believes the players and the front office are aligned with their long-term goals.
“They want to win. We want to win,” Rutschman said. “I don’t think anyone has any doubts or anyone’s discouraged by the frustrating times we’ve had. I think everyone knows how talented this group is and the guys we have in this locker room, and I think we have a lot of confidence in that.”