Rutschman’s positive memories of time with Orioles: ‘A phenomenal experience’

BALTIMORE—Adley Rutschman’s first day as a visitor started with a quick visit to the Orioles clubhouse to exchange some hugs and jokes with his former teammates.

Rutschman, who was traded from the Orioles to the Boston Red Sox on August 3^rd, is back in the Red Sox lineup, batting third and catching in Thursday night’s game.

“A lot of memories, a lot of positive memories, good interactions with guys,” Rutschman said to a large horde of media in Boston’s clubhouse. “They were texting me, saying, ‘make sure you don’t take the right turn to the dugout after you ground out.’”

Rutschman, who missed four games with a hyperextended right elbow, returns to the lineup and will surely receive a warm ovation.

“I’ve talked with a couple of guys just about how it’s gone for them when they’ve been traded and going back,” he said. “I want to be in the lineup for every game, but it just worked out today, just feeling good and just able to be back in there.”

Rutschman is batting .170 with a home run and four RBIs in 15 games.

“The adjustment has been…a little bit different, just kind of picking up and moving everything,” he said. “But I’ve found my routine.”

Rutschman will be facing a team that’s hanging on to the hope that they’ll e in the wild card. His new team is on track to be the American League’s second wild card.

“All the guys do a great job of separating personal relationships from what they have to do on the field,” he said. “Once you step between the white lines, you’re playing the game. It’s tough to be really focused on anything other than the job at hand, especially when you’re catching , you’ve got to be focused.”

Rutschman was the overall No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft, debuted for the Orioles on May 21^st, 2022, was an All-Star three times and won the Silver Slugger in 2023.

“It’s been a phenomenal experience, nothing but positive things to say about everything and everyone in the organization,” Rutschman said.

There’s no bitterness for Mike Elias, the Orioles president of baseball operations, who used him as the centerpiece of the team’s rebuild that culminated in 2023 with 101 wins and an American League East title. There was a 90-win season and wild-card berth in 2024.

But, there wasn’t a single playoff win, and after five trips to the injured list in the last two years, Elias traded him to the Red Sox a month ago.

“I have a ton of respect for Mike. He’s got a tough job. He’s got to make tough decisions,” Rutschman said.

“He’s really good at what he does, and he has reasons for everything that he does. I’ve always had a good relationship with him. It’s one of those things in baseball that you understand as part of the business aspect of it.

“He’s got to do what he thinks is best for the organization, short-term, long-term. I don’t have any ill feelings towards anyone in the Orioles organization at all. It’s been nothing but positive, and it will continue to be that way.”

Notes: Reliever Anthony Nunez is on the taxi squad in case the Orioles need to make a move with left-hander Grant Wolfram who felt elbow tightness on Wednesday. …Infielder Luis Vázquez passed through waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. …Right-hander Cameron Weston was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets. …High-A Frederick outfielder Enddy Azocar, who came to the Orioles in the Rutschman trade, was named the South Atlantic League’s player of the month for August. …José Barrero hit a three-run home run and drove in four runs, Bryan Ramos also homered as Norfolk beat Jacksonville 10-9 in 10 innings.

Orioles-Red Sox lineups

Orioles

Blaze Alexander-2B

Coby Mayo-DH

Luis Robert Jr.-CF

Pete Alonso-1B

Gunnar Henderson-SS

Christian Encarnacion-Strand-3B

Leody Taveras-RF

Dylan Beavers-LF

Carlos Narváez-C

Brandon Young-RHP

Red Sox

Roman Anthony-DH

Mickey Gasper-1B

Adley Rutschman-C

Wilyer Abreu-RF

Nick Sogard-2B

Caleb Durbin-3B

Jarren Duran-LF

Eli White-CF

Isiah Kiner-Falefa-SS

Jake Bennett-LHP

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