BALTIMORE — The Orioles figure to look markedly different after Thursday’s trade deadline, but that will also include the return of a two-time All-Star selection and a recognizable reliever to the active roster.
Prior to Sunday’s series finale against Colorado, manager Tony Mansolino said catcher Adley Rutschman and left-hander Keegan Akin are on track to be activated from the injured list on Monday for the start of a four-game set with first-place Toronto.
Sidelined with a strained left oblique since June 20, Rutschman completed a four-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday night, going 2-for-15 with a double, three walks, and four strikeouts. It’s no secret that the last calendar year has been incredibly disappointing for the first overall pick of the 2019 amateur draft, but Rutschman was having his best month at the plate since the previous June, making the timing of his injury even more frustrating for him and his last-place club.
“He’s going to be in the building later today, and my guess is he will catch tomorrow if all checks out today,” Mansolino said Sunday morning. “If he comes in healthy, body feels good, [there’s a] good chance he’ll be squatting behind the dish tomorrow.”
In 276 plate appearances this season, the 27-year-old Rutschman is batting .227 with eight home runs, 20 RBIs, and a .691 on-base plus slugging percentage. Dating back to July 1, 2024, the two-time All-Star catcher owns a slash line of .210/.298/.329 in 557 plate appearances.
On the IL since the beginning of the month because of left shoulder inflammation, Akin made two rehab appearances for the Tides this past week, allowing one earned run and striking out one in two innings. His return has become more notable when looking at the present state of an Orioles bullpen that’s lost Bryan Baker and Gregory Soto in July trades and closer Felix Bautista due to right shoulder discomfort. That attrition has left barely recognizable names such as Corbin Martin and Yaramil Hiraldo filling out the back of Baltimore’s pen, and that’s before the very real possibility of right-handers Seranthony Dominguez and Andrew Kittredge being dealt before Thursday’s deadline.
Akin, 30, has pitched to a 3.32 ERA with 38 strikeouts and 18 walks in 38 innings for Baltimore this season.
First baseman Ryan Mountcastle was continuing his Triple-A rehab assignment on Sunday afternoon. He is on the 60-day IL with a hamstring injury sustained May 30.
Mansolino also announced the next step for rehabbing starting pitchers Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells, who are both eyeing returns from their 2024 elbow surgeries by late August. After an encouraging first rehab start at High-A Aberdeen this past Thursday, the 28-year-old Bradish is set to pitch for Double-A Chesapeake on Tuesday. Wells, 30, will begin his rehab assignment at Chesapeake on Wednesday.
