Earlier than even stepping to the plate on Saturday, catcher Adley Rutschman made distinctive Baltimore Orioles historical past after being penciled in on the leadoff spot within the batting order.
For those who suppose a catcher batting leadoff is uncommon, it is true. In accordance with Sarah Langs of ESPN, Rutschman is simply the fifth catcher to bat within the No. 1 spot over the 121-year historical past of the Orioles/St. Louis Browns franchise. Rutschman joins Probability Sisco (2020), Floyd Rayford (1984), Curt Blefary (1968) and Clint Courtney (1953).
In solely his second Main League season, Rutschman has impressed, nevertheless it’s onerous to think about anybody thought he’d be batting leadoff, at any level, for the O’s.
Nonetheless, supervisor Brandon Hyde instructed reporters earlier than the Orioles’ contest with the New York Yankees that he’d been considering of batting Rutschman at one, primarily as a result of his excessive on-base share (.368).
The 2023 marketing campaign has been one to recollect for Rutschman, who earned his first All-Star nod earlier within the yr. The 25-year-old’s numbers place him among the many finest offensive catchers within the league, as Rutschman ranks first amongst backstops in hits (100), fifth in RBI (46) and seventh in house runs (14). Coming into Saturday’s motion, Rutschman was slashing .268/.368/.426 whereas carrying a modest four-game hitting streak.
The previous No. 1 general choose is one among a number of breakout children on the Orioles, together with American League Rookie of the Yr candidate Gunnar Henderson.
With Rutschman, Henderson and others in tow, the Orioles are the shocking front-runner atop the AL East (63-40), main the Tampa Bay Rays (63-43) by 1.5 video games.
