Just as the Orioles are finding their stride with their longest winning streak in nearly three years, their lone 2026 All-Star representative is going back on the injured list.
Prior to the start of a pivotal three-game set with red-hot Boston at Fenway Park, catcher Adley Rutschman was placed on the 10-day IL with left wrist inflammation. News of Rutschman’s wrist issue emerged Sunday after he wasn’t in the lineup for the finale in Houston and Baltimore selected the contract of reserve catcher Sam Huff. Making matters worse, Huff entered in the second inning of the eventual 5-2 win over the Astros after Samuel Basallo left the game with right shoulder discomfort.
The Orioles selected the contract of catcher Chadwick Tromp from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Rutschman on the 26-man roster. It wasn’t clear as of Monday afternoon whether Basallo will avoid the IL, but he was not in the starting lineup against Red Sox lefty Payton Tolle. Outfielder Rudy Martin was designated for assignment to make room for Tromp on the 40-man roster.
This marks Rutschman’s third IL stint of the season and fifth since June of last year, a concerning trend after he had zero trips to the IL over his first three years in the big leagues. The 28-year-old missed time with a minor ankle injury in April and was placed on the 7-day concussion list in late June after being hit on the side of the head by an errant throw to first base. Rutschman had two lengthier stays on the IL last season for two different oblique strains.
In 284 plate appearances this season, the three-time All-Star catcher is batting .251 with eight home runs, 47 RBIs, and a .764 on-base plus slugging percentage. With standout shortstop Gunnar Henderson in the midst of the worst season of his career, Rutschman rebounding from a very poor second half of 2024 and disappointing 2025 has helped the Orioles remain in the AL wild-card mix despite their overall inconsistency.
