SEATTLE — Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, who starred at Sherwood High School and Oregon State University before he was the No. 1 pick in the MLB Draft four years ago, competed in the All-Star festivities at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Monday and Tuesday.
After finishing second in the Rookie of the Year voting last year, Rutschman, 25, has upped his game in his second season, hitting .273 with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs in the first half of the season.
On Monday night, with his dad, Randy Rutschman, pitching to him, he put on a show in the Home Run Derby. On Tuesday night, he played in his first MLB All-Star Game, entering in the sixth inning of the National League's 3-2 win.
Here’s a look at Rutschman’s performances in the various events:
Home Run Derby
Rutschman added a new wrinkle to the Home Run Derby, even if it didn’t result in a victory. Rutschman displayed his power from both sides of the plate as a switch hitter, swatting a combined 27 homers in his first-round matchup on Monday night.
Rutschman had the crowd roaring during the initial 3-minute round, hitting 21 homers left-handed. Rutschman’s longest homer left-handed was a 445-foot shot that reached the third level of right field.
For the bonus round, Rutschman flipped around and hit right-handed. Rutschman hit six out to left field in the 30-second round and walked off to a standing ovation.
Ultimately, it was a losing effort as White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr. hit 28 homers to advance in the event.
All-Star game
Rutschman didn't get the start at catcher in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night. That honor went to Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim, who's hitting .282 with 12 home runs and 59 RBI this season.
Rutschman was one of two other catchers on the American League All-Star roster; the third was Kansas City's Salvador Perez.
In Tuesday's game, which the National League won 3-2, Rutschman entered at catcher in the sixth inning and got the chance to catch for his teammate, Orioles relief pitcher Yennier Cano, that inning. Rutschman stayed in to catch the final four innings of the game.
In his lone at-bat of the game, Rutschman lined out to right field in the bottom of the seventh inning. He was on deck in the bottom of the ninth inning when Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez struck out to end the game.
