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Baltimore Orioles: Adley Rutschman Is Now The Man In Birdland

By Nick Stevens|
Omaha, NE - JUNE 27: Catcher Adley Rutschman #35 of the Oregon State Beavers singles in the first inning against the Arkansas Razorbacks during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 27, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE - JUNE 27: Catcher Adley Rutschman #35 of the Oregon State Beavers singles in the first inning against the Arkansas Razorbacks during game two of the College World Series Championship Series on June 27, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)

It’s official! The Baltimore Orioles have selected Adley Rutschman, the switch-hitting catcher out of Oregon State, with the first overall pick of the 2019 MLB draft.

R-U-T-S-C-H-M-A-N. Get comfortable spelling Adley Rutschman’s name, because the former Oregon State Beaver has traded in his OSU black and orange for the black and orange of the Baltimore Orioles.

You weren’t worried, were you? Did you really think Mike Elias would pass on the most highly touted draft prospect since Bryce Harper? Dreams do come true, O’s fans. This franchise CAN have nice things. Welcome to Birdland, Adley Rutschman.

With the first overall pick of the 2019 MLB draft, the Baltimore Orioles have selected Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman. I haven’t smiled like this in a long time, when thinking about Orioles baseball.

Originally a 40th-round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners back in 2016, Rutschman went the college route, calling Oregon State University his home for the past three seasons. He made an instant name for himself, winning College World Series Most Outstanding Player honors to cap off his freshman season and a national championship run.

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Across three seasons and 185 games, Rutschman slashed .352/.473/.559 with 28 home runs, 39 doubles, and more walks (156) than strikeouts (117). His 2019 season featured Pac-12 Player of the Year honors after posting a .411 batting average, .575 OBP, 17 home runs, and 76 walks in 57 games, including the famous walk of 2019- a bases loaded intentional walk against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the NCAA Regionals just a few days ago.

He’s such a feared hitter, that a team would rather sacrifice a run than pitch to him, all with their season on the line in the postseason. That’s respect.

Rutschman now likely becomes the top-ranked prospect in the Baltimore Orioles’ system and one of the top prospects in all of baseball. Who are we kidding, Rutschman now becomes the top prospect in the O’s farm system, without a doubt. He won’t be in the minor leagues long, with many reports believing he could start as high up the ladder as High-A with the Frederick Keys in the coming days.

We won’t know what type of major league player he is for a while, but I’m excited to find out. We aren’t dreaming anymore. Welcome to the Baltimore Orioles, Adley Rutschman.

The Baltimore Orioles still have two more selections on Monday night. Head on over to @BirdsWatcherFS on Twitter to discuss the rest of tonight’s picks.

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