With the season on the line, the Baltimore Orioles’ bats faltered, leading to a second consecutive postseason sweep that has fans questioning the viability of one supposed franchise cornerstone. While most of the team’s hitters underperformed, only Adley Rutschman entered the postseason already struggling at the plate.
Following the All-Star Break, the former first overall pick posted a disappointing .207/.282/.303 batting line, with just three home runs and 33 strikeouts over 58 games. In the three-game series loss against the Kansas City Royals, Rutschman managed only one hit, capping off a frustrating year.
In contrast, he had a solid first half, hitting .276/.339/.441 with 16 home runs. This sharp decline in performance has sparked concern among fans about Rutschman’s future. However, former manager Buck Showalter, who led the team from 2010 to 2018, believes there’s no need for alarm. In an October 17 interview with Ryan Ripken, Showalter defended the 26-year-old catcher.
“Don’t bet against this kid,” Showalter said. “The best development of players happens in the offseason sometimes… Adley Rutschman is fine. He’s going to be a good player for a long time, and he will figure this out. He’ll be better as a result of some of the struggles.”
As Rutschman and the Orioles head into the 2024 offseason, they have a long list of improvements to address. Their success in these areas could determine whether they make a postseason appearance next year and secure their first playoff win since 2014. The rebuild has been completed; now it’s time for the Orioles to take the next step.
