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Baltimore Orioles: MLB Pipeline Predicts Jump For Adley Rutschman

By Nick Stevens|
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JUNE 25: The 2019 top overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft, Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles acknowledges the crowd during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 25, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JUNE 25: The 2019 top overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft, Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles acknowledges the crowd during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 25, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Where will Baltimore Orioles top prospect Adley Rutschman rank among the game’s best prospects at this time next year? The MLB Pipeline crew give their thoughts.

In a fun piece on MLB Pipeline earlier this week, Jim Callis and the team took a stab at predicting what their list of Top 10 prospects in baseball would look like one year from now. To the surprise of probably no one, Baltimore Orioles top prospect, and 2019 first overall draft pick, Adley Rutschman makes an appearance on this list.

In fact, Rutschman appears on MLB Pipeline’s list at number two, right behind Tampa Bay Rays star infield prospect, Wander Franco. Franco is currently ranked as the league’s top prospect, but doesn’t figure to break into the major leagues next season. At 18, Franco finished the 2019 season in High-A ball with the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League.

As Callis points out, those currently in between Franco (#1) and Rutschman (#6) (RHP Casey Mize, LHP MacKenzie Gore, OF Jo Adell, OF Luis Robert) will likely end the 2020 season at the major league level, leaving Rutschman to slot in as the second-best prospect in the game.

Here’s what Pipeline had to say in their piece about Rutschman,

“Combining Mark Teixeira-esque offensive upside with Gold Glove potential behind the plate makes him the best amateur catching prospect since MLB went to a single Draft in 1987″

The former Oregon State Beaver appeared in 37 games after being drafted first overall by the Orioles in this year’s draft. From his first home run in the Gulf Coast League to the seven potential base stealers who failed to reach their destination, Rustchman brought a lot of excitement to the Orioles fan base in a very short amount of time as fans followed him on his journey this season.

After a five game stint in the Gulf Coast League just to knock the rust off, Rutschman played in 20 games with the Aberdeen Ironbirds (.325/.413/.481, 1 HR, 7 2B, 15 RBI) before ending his season with 12 games in Delmarva, plus two playoff games.

Overall, Rutschman hit .254 with four home runs, eight doubles, one triple, 26 RBI, and 19 runs scored across the three levels in his first taste of professional baseball. He walked 20 times, stole a base, and showed off his elite abilities behind the plate. Opponents were successful in stealing a base just four times in 11 attempts against Rutschman, who many believe has major league-ready defense.

Rutschman likely won’t put on an Orioles jersey next season, but his time will come very quickly. When it does, Orioles fans are hoping it’s just the beginning of a very special time in Birdland.

Going back through the end of season rankings on MLB Pipeline for the last few years, the highest-ranked Orioles prospects have been as follows-

  • 2018- OF Yusniel Diaz (52)
  • 2017- C Chance Sisco (45)

    • 2016- None

  • 2015- RHP Hunter Harvey (60)
  • 2014- RHP Dylan Bundy (12)

    • 2013- RHP

    Kevin Gausman

    (14)

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    With RHP Grayson Rodriguez currently ranked 44th and LHP DL Hall ranked 60th overall, could the Orioles end next year with three prospects ranked in the Top 50? Maybe four, depending on how the 2020 MLB draft shakes out? The future appears bright, indeed.

    So where does Rutschman begin the 2020 season? If you live close to Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie, you might see an influx of bodies in the stands next season. I think he begins the year in Bowie, ends the season in Norfolk, and finds himself with the big league club in spring training of 2021. His introduction at Camden Yards was electric, just imagine the atmosphere at his first game.

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