Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is a two-time All-Star coming off the worst season of his MLB career. The 28-year-old, who finished second in the 2022 American League Rookie of the Year voting and won a Silver Slugger in 2024, hit just .220 with a .673 OPS in 90 games for Baltimore last season. Both were career-worst marks that he hoped to bounce back from in 2026.
Through 14 games this season, Rutschman is hitting .333 with three home runs despite a stint on the 10-day injured list with left ankle inflammation. The former No. 1 overall pick has split time behind the plate and at DH, as Baltimore looks to get both he and Samuel Basallo consistent ABs.
Among those tasked with helping Rutschman recapture his All-Star form is bullpen coach Hank Conger. Hired in November 2025 as part of a new-look staff under first-year manager Craig Albernaz, the 37-year-old Conger is a former first-round pick who caught for seven seasons in the majors with the Los Angeles Angels, Houston Astros, and Tampa Bay Rays. He was brought to Baltimore specifically to support a catching room that is led by Rutschman and Basallo.
Speaking on MASN's "O's Xtra" pregame show ahead of Sunday's game, Conger was asked what has stood out about Rutschman through the season's first month.
"I think it's just been everything," Conger said. "First off, he's just awesome to work with. Such a good dude, brings such good energy to the field. A lot of the preparation is just very thoughtful, thoughtful training, everything he's trying to do to improve every single pitch. So it's been exciting to watch."
The early numbers in 2026 show why Conger and others in Baltimore are so pleased with Rutschman's. His .33 average is a major reversal from 2025, when he hit .220 with a 89 OPS+ that placed him below league average offensively. His struggles dated back to the 2024 All-Star break, after which he hit .207 with a .585 OPS in 58 games down the stretch. Despite the slide, Rutschman's plate discipline has kept him afloat offensively. Even in his career-worst 2025, he posted an 11 percent walk rate against a 15.6 percent strikeout rate.
While the early sample is small, Rutschman's start has reignited belief that the No. 1 overall pick from 2019 is still one of the best catchers in the game. With Conger and Albernaz invested in his rebound, the 28-year-old has a chance to prove last season was the floor production-wise.