Last Thursday, Birdland experienced disappointment when Adley Rutschman was not voted as the starting catcher in the 2023 All-Star Game.
On Sunday, the feeling was reversed when Rutschman and three of his teammates were selected to participate in the game. On Monday, we got quite the surprise when it was announced that Rutschman would participate in the Home Run Derby.
I don’t think it is outlandish to say nobody saw this coming. In a five day span, an entire fanbase went through a journey of emotions that ultimately ended with pride that our superstar would be in the spotlight multiple times over the coming weeks.
We have since learned that Adley will have his dad, Randy, throw to him in what will be a heart-tugging event. We also have been teased with the chance that Adley will hit from both sides of the plate.
If you want to spend a moment debating which will suit him better, the dimensions of T-Mobile Park in Seattle are 331′ to left field, 378′ to left-center, 401′ to dead center, 381′ to right-center, and 326′ to right field. Adley also has eight home runs as a lefty and three as a righty this year, so signs point to him hitting lefty that will give him his best shot.
As you sit here and read this, the question may have crossed your mind. Why Adley Rutschman?
He’s tied for second in team home runs and has not blown the doors off in exit velocity or launch angle. The answer is as simple as you think. It’s Adley Rutschman.
The Orioles have spent the better part of a half decade being the butt of the joke in baseball. Prior to that, the O’s were pretty well-known for their ability to mash the baseball and had a decent track record of players participating in the Derby. The Orioles and baseball overall have been starving for that to return.
Once the Orioles drafted, developed and called up Adley, everything changed. The Orioles have fought their way back to relevancy and are one of the best teams in baseball. The organization almost quite literally flipped a switch with Adley Rutschman, and giving him the chance to shine on the big stage is baseball’s way of celebrating that.
This will also be as close as a home event for Adley as any will ever be. Being born and raised in Portland, Oregon, this is his home park. So much so that at age eight, he won the regional Pitch, Hit and Run competition at T-Mobile Park. Now, 17 years later, he gets the chance to win something just a bit bigger than that.
Make no mistake about it, Rutschman will be hitting some absolute tanks next Monday. With his three teammates, his family and friends, and Birdland behind him, watch out for Adley to bring the Orioles back into Home Run Derby relevancy.
How well do you think Adley will do in the Derby? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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