MLB Network ranking just handed Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman extra motivation

Every year MLB Network releases their Top 10 players at each position lists. In 2024 Adley Rutchsman was the No. 1 catcher on the board, and in 2025 he was ranked No. 2. This week the 2026 rankings were published, and Rutschman was nowhere to be found. For the first time in his life Rutschman is underrated.

If "The Shredder" is correct, then the Baltimore Orioles are in trouble. Since Rutschman's debut the team success has been directly tied to his production more than any other player. He had career OPS above .800 in 2022 until the end of June of 2024. During that time, the Orioles were the winningest team in the American league.

Rutschman has entered a horrific slump since July of 2024 until now and Orioles have a losing record during that time span. If Adley just isn't a top-10 catcher anymore that's a big blow the Orioles outlook. But there are reasons for optimism.

MLB Network ranking just handed Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman extra motivation

Rutschman's best offensive quality has always been his approach. He doesn't chase and doesn't whiff. He's consistently been in the upper percentile of the league in both walk rate and strikeout rate. That's why, despite his recent struggles, he's been a fixture at the top of the lineup.

Rutschman's best offensive tool is still intact and his process is still sound. There is nothing here to indicate that pitchers have "figured him out" or found a hole in his swing. It's a safe bet that he'll continue to have good plate discipline and force pitchers to throw a lot of pitches in 2026.

When Rutschman is at his best, he's a line drive hitter. For most of his career, his line drive rate has held steady above 22%, which is typically good for a top 20 mark in the league. In the back half of 2024 he saw his line drive rate drop to 20% and then in 2025 it slipped down to 17% which put him just outside the top 200 in the league in line drive rate.

Many of the best hitters in the league have line drive rates lower than 17%, Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani and Fernando Tatis for example, but those guys are power hitters with elite bat speed who are trying to hit homers. Rutschman has some power and can hit the ball over the fence at a decent clip, but he's a much better hitter when he's spraying line drives all over the field.

Ever since Craig Albernaz was hired as the manager he has talked multiple times about how every player is different and how the new hitting coaches are going to create individualized hitting plans for each hitter. For Rutschman, that should mean a renewed focus on what made him a great hitter in the first half of his career.

Finally, after hitting the IL four separate times in 2025, there's hope that Rutschman will be fully healthy in 2026. So while MLB Network may not be high on Rutschman, Orioles fans shouldn't be worried (yet).