In what might be remembered as the greatest non-baseball week of recent memory for the Baltimore Orioles, the baseball gods provided fans with two gloriously unexpected treats: (1) news of the embattled Angelos family finally selling the Orioles to billionaire (and current Baltimore hero) David Rubenstein; and (2) the acquisition of surefire ace pitcher Corbin Burnes.
These two stories have Orioles fans chomping at the bit even more than usual, counting down the days until the 2024 season opens at Camden Yards against the Angels. Let's take an early dive into which Orioles are likely to run out on the orange carpet on Opening Day.
Catchers (2): Adley Rutschman and James McCann
This one is pretty straightforward. While the Orioles added some depth to the catcher position this winter, neither Adley Rustchman nor James McCann face any serious competition for their jobs, barring injury. Entering his second full season with the Orioles, Rutschman has emerged as a quiet, confident leader, while McCann provides a steady, veteran presence behind him. The only drama at the catching position is how often Brandon Hyde will rest Rutschman throughout the regular season to keep him fresh for the stretch run.