Adley Rutschman has been underwhelming for the Baltimore Orioles over the last two seasons.
The Baltimore Orioles remain one of baseball’s most talent-rich organizations as they prepare for the 2026 season, built around a young core that has already proven it can contend in the American League East.
Expectations remain high in Baltimore, particularly for the players who helped drive the franchise’s resurgence over the last several seasons. Few names loom larger in that conversation than catcher Adley Rutschman, whose presence behind the plate helped reshape the Orioles’ identity.
Rutschman has been a foundational piece since his arrival, praised for his leadership, durability and two-way impact. Even as Baltimore continues to add talent around him, he remains a central figure for both the pitching staff and the lineup. That context made a recent offseason ranking particularly surprising for many around the league.
Earlier this week, MLB Network announced its Top 10 Catchers Right Now list on X, and Rutschman was notably left off. The omission raised eyebrows given his track record and importance to a contending Orioles roster, and it provided a rare moment where the narrative around Rutschman shifted from praise to skepticism.
From a production standpoint, Rutschman’s 2025 season was underwhelming. The 27-year-old appeared in 90 games and hit .220 with a .307 on base percentage and a .673 OPS.
He finished the year with nine home runs and 29 RBIs, offering modest offensive value while continuing to grade out well defensively behind the plate. The overall numbers were disappointing, but they still placed him in the upper tier of catchers when compared to leaguewide production at the position.
A former No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, Rutschman quickly established himself as a clubhouse leader and game manager, earning two All-Star selections and AL MVP votes early in his career. At his peak, he was widely viewed as the best all-around catcher in baseball, capable of anchoring a lineup while elevating an entire pitching staff.
Looking ahead to 2026, the outlook remains encouraging. Rutschman is still in his physical prime, and a return to elite offensive production is well within reach. The Orioles also have highly regarded prospect Samuel Basallo set to play in his first full season, giving the organization long term depth.
Basallo’s presence could eventually ease Rutschman’s workload or create lineup flexibility, but it does not diminish his importance.
Being left off a top 10 list may sting, but it could also serve as motivation. If Rutschman rediscovers his offensive peak, the conversation around his standing at the position could shift quickly back in his favor.