Before stopping in a huddle of media members at Leidos Field, Adley Rutschman needed to reply an vital query from Aberdeen IronBirds common supervisor Jack Graham: What did he need his walk-up music to be?
Rutschman, the Orioles’ high prospect, took his time, answering different questions from reporters earlier than turning his consideration to that one and selecting Kanye West’s “Gorgeous.” It won’t play lengthy at Ripken Stadium, with Rutschman, 24, starting a minor league rehab task Tuesday with the Orioles’ High-A affiliate as he works his method again from a proper tricep pressure suffered on the cusp of main league spring coaching.
Rutschman caught Tuesday and batted second amid a group of different high Orioles prospects, with Connor Norby forward of him and César Prieto, Coby Mayo and Colton Cowser behind him. He hit a tough lineout to left in his first at-bat then pulled a double into proper from the left aspect earlier than working a six-pitch stroll as a right-handed hitter in his last plate look, catching the primary 5 innings. Mayo, Baltimore’s fourth-round choose in 2020, and Billy Cook, 2021′s Tenth-round choice, added house runs.
The contest marked Rutschman’s first in High-A, having skipped the extent amid the canceled 2020 minor league, however a return to Aberdeen. Weeks after the Orioles drafted him in 2019, he joined what was then the Orioles’ short-season membership for his first style of affiliated ball. He shortly discovered familiarity within the space, notably remembering the locations he’d eaten.
“I think from just like a mental, physical standpoint, there’s been a lot of strides,” Rutschman stated. “You always kind of think about what kind of headspace you were in at that time, and I remember coming here and being interviewed in this dugout and just kind of wide-eyed and not really knowing what was going on, just trying to fit in and make sure I was not stepping on any toes and just make sure I’m doing everything right. But I think now definitely a little bit more confidence in what we’re doing and kind of how I want to approach my everyday play.”
He admitted endurance, although, stays a piece in progress, at the very least in terms of baseball. As Rutschman rehabbed his damage, he watched Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr., drafted one choose after him in 2019, and Detroit’s Spencer Torkelson, chosen first general a 12 months later, make their debuts. If not for his damage, Rutschman may need already performed the identical as these gamers, who he is aware of from enjoying with and in opposition to them. He’ll possible return to Triple-A Norfolk, the place he hit .312/.405/.490 in 43 video games final 12 months, earlier than the Orioles name him up.
“You’re excited for them more than anything,” Rutschman stated. “I think it kind of is just even more motivation to continue to push forward.”
Also becoming a member of Aberdeen from prolonged spring coaching is left-hander DL Hall, Baltimore’s No. 3 prospect who is constant his development from a stress response in his pitching elbow. Rutschman stated he, Hall and No. 2 prospect Grayson Rodriguez — a right-hander ranked as baseball’s high pitching prospect who has starred with Norfolk — usually discuss a future the place all of them share the clubhouse at Camden Yards.
“I think it’s hard not to,” Rutschman stated. “It’s one of the things you try not to really get too excited or think about the future too much because I think we all try and stay present as much as we can. You want to enjoy the time you have right now, especially since you’re in the minor leagues for two, three, however many years you are, and if you’re just constantly looking at the big leagues and, ‘Oh, I want to be here,’ then I think you kind of take for granted the time you have right now, especially to make the relationships with the guys on the team. I think that’s the biggest thing, but definitely there is that aspect of we look forward to be able to contribute to a team, try and win, and win together.”
Hall echoed that feeling.
“It’s definitely a thought that goes through our heads, I can’t lie,” Hall stated. “It’s very exciting, not just with us, but with all the guys we have coming up and everyone that we have in this farm system, just a lot of talented guys. It’s super exciting to know the future of the Orioles is in good hands, for sure.”
In describing himself as “a few weeks away from being truly let loose,” Hall isn’t sure of the concrete plans for him in Aberdeen, saying he’ll work his method up from there a stage at a time till hopefully reaching the majors someday this season. In the meantime, he stated he’s paid for an MiLB TV subscription to maintain up with Rodriguez and the Tides.
“Told him he needs to start striking more people out,” Hall stated with a chuckle.
Like Rutschman, Hall stated it’s laborious to be affected person, particularly as he approaches 5 years since he was drafted twenty first general in 2017. He known as becoming a member of the Orioles this 12 months his “ultimate goal,” however he understands the group’s warning with him.
“It’s kind of a thing in baseball that you kind of grow used to just because you see it happen with so many prospects and things like that,” Hall stated. “They never rush you too much. It’s been a long journey, but I’m looking forward to this year and actually being able to progress.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com