Orioles’ Rutschman homers in pro debut; Tanner Scott returns; Karns feels improvement

BALTIMORE—The Orioles’ Adley Rutschman, the top pick in last month’s Major League Baseball Draft, hit a home run in his professional debut on Saturday.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde was shown a tape of Rutschman’s home run.

“Congratulations on number one,” Hyde said. “Hopefully, it’s one of many … not in the [Gulf Coast League.]”

Rutschman, whose debut has been delayed by mononucleosis, was the designated hitter for Gulf Coast, and went 1-for-4 in a 6-4 loss to the GCL Pirates at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida.

The Orioles are expected to move Rutschman to Short-Season Aberdeen, perhaps as soon as next weekend, after he catches a few games for Gulf Coast.

Aberdeen begins a six-game homestand on Tuesday against Lowell, and plays Hudson Valley next Friday-Sunday.

Scott activated, Wynns down: Catcher Pedro Severino, who hasn’t been feeling well this week, might return to the lineup on Sunday. Chance Sisco was in the starting lineup on Saturday and was told by Hyde, a former catcher, to stay out of the heat until game time.

The Orioles had brought up Austin Wynns on Friday, and he caught the ninth inning of the Orioles’ 11-2 win over Boston. Wynns was sent back to Rochester on Saturday.

Tanner Scott, who was on the taxi squad for Friday’s game, was activated for Saturday.

Scott, who has a 5.56 ERA in 12 games with the Orioles this season, joins Richard Bleier and Paul Fry as left-handers in the bullpen.

In 20 games with Norfolk, Scott is 3-2 with a 3.23 ERA and four saves.

“He was throwing the ball really well at Norfolk,” Hyde said. “Like a lot of our bullpen guys, it’s command. It’s not stuff. It’s about being able to execute pitches at this level, being aggressive and commanding the strike zone.”

In effect, Scott was swapped out for right-hander Tayler Scott, who was optioned to Norfolk after Wednesday night’s game.

Tanner and Tayler Scott were briefly teammates with the Tides. Tanner is a left-hander. Tayler is a right-hander.

“We consider ourselves brothers because we have the same last name, first two letters in the first name,” Tanner Scott said.

“It’s kind of different when you see a scoring sheet, and it says ‘Tay Scott and Tan Scott. I’ve never seen that before.”

Karns ramping up: Pitcher Nate Karns, who has spent nearly all season on the 60-day injured list with a right forearm strain, hopes that he’s nearing a return.

Karns threw two innings for Double-A Bowie, and on Saturday threw a 20-pitch simulated outing.

“Now we’re going to pick up the frequency as far as appearances and then make sure we’re good with that,” Karns said. “It shouldn’t be too long before I get off the IL.”

Karns thinks he’s going to throw at least another rehab game while the Orioles are on the West Coast.

“I would like to get off [the IL] by the time this road trip’s over,” Karns said.

“It’s been a slower progression than everyone would have liked. I feel like we’re getting close.”