Adley Rutschman shrugs off 2024 season with massive Opening Day home run

Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman entered the 2024 season with high expectations, and for the first half of the year, he delivered. Through June, Rutschman posted a strong .294/.350/.471 slash line with 15 home runs, cementing himself as one of the league’s premier offensive catchers. However, post-All-Star break, his production took a noticeable dip, finishing the season with a .250/.318/.391 line and just four more homers, bringing his season total to 19.

As his numbers declined, speculation grew about whether Rutschman was playing through an injury. He dealt with lower-back discomfort in August, raising questions about how much physical setbacks were impacting his performance. However, both Rutschman and the Orioles' management downplayed the injuries, insisting they were not major contributing factors.

Beyond his offensive struggles, Rutschman’s defensive performance also took a hit. Once regarded as an elite pitch framer, his framing metrics noticeably declined in 2024. Additionally, there was a noticeable contrast in his offensive production depending on his role — he hit significantly better as a designated hitter than as a catcher, suggesting that the physical toll of the position may have an influence on his bat.

Despite these challenges, Rutschman is approaching 2025 with confidence, and he wasted no time making a statement on Opening Day. With star shortstop Gunnar Henderson absent from the lineup due to minor soreness, the Orioles needed their veterans to step up. Rutschman answered that call in a big way.

Rutschman kicks off 2025 season with a blast

In his first at-bat of the season against Blue Jays starter José Berríos, Rutschman worked the count before blasting a home run to right-center field over the bullpen and into the bleachers. The perfect statement swing Orioles fans were longing for.

The home run set the tone for an Orioles lineup that, even without Gunnar Henderson, looked poised to make noise early in the season.

For Rutschman, that blast was more than just a home run — it was a signal. A sign that the new baseball season has arrived, and that he is ready to put last season behind him. If his Opening Day fireworks are any indication, the Orioles’ catcher could be poised for a resurgence in 2025, flashing shades of his early 2024 dominance and proving that last year’s struggles were nothing more than a temporary setback.