Former Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman will get his homecoming on Thursday night as the Boston Red Sox open up a four-game set at Camden Yards.
The 28-year-old catcher, who was drafted first overall by the Orioles in the 2019 MLB Draft, was traded to the Red Sox at this year’s trade deadline as the headline of a blockbuster deal that sent a huge prospect package back to Baltimore.
So far, it’s been a chilly start for Rutschman in Boston. Joining the club while on the IL for a wrist injury, he has struggled to a .170 batting average and .500 OPS in his first 15 games with the Sox. Last week, a new elbow injury emerged for Rutschman, who was held out of games in Miami to avoid making the matter worse.
It looked like he was in the clear over the weekend when he started in three out of the four games in the Bronx, but he was once again held out of the lineup for the elbow this week, missing all three games at Fenway Park for a series loss to the Mariners.
On Tuesday, interim manager Chad Tracy revealed that the elbow is probably something that the team will have to manage with Rutschman for the rest of the season. While this set off some alarms, the overwhelming sentiment, especially considering some of the Red Sox’s other moves recently, is to make sure he is rested and recovered before throwing him back out there for a game.
The good news is that the Sox skipper feels good enough about Rutschman’s health to start him behind the plate for his first trip back to Baltimore since the trade. He will bat third and catch for rookie Jake Bennett.
Ceddanne Rafaela and Trevor Story Sit on Thursday
Absent from the lineup, however, are everyday centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela and recently returned shortstop Trevor Story. Rafaela, who has been batting out of the three-hole since Roman Anthony and Mickey Gasper rejoined the team this week, is resting Thursday after leaving Wednesday’s game with some quad tightness.
Tracy said after the game that Rafaela wanted to continue playing, but with the Red Sox already trailing in the game they decided to play it safe. They will do so again on Thursday, with Eli White getting the start in center.
Story will get a chance to rest alongside him after playing four days in a row fresh off the IL. Starting at shortstop will be Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who also just rejoined the team from the injured list on Tuesday when rosters expanded.
Rutschman’s return will certainly come with some mixed emotions from both sides. The five-year veteran put together four and a half strong seasons in Baltimore, earning three All-Star nods and slashing .254/.342/.414 in 572 games for the O’s.
ALSO SEE: NRFI and YRFI MLB Bets Today: Best First-Inning Predictions for Thursday, Sept. 3
Greatest Red Sox of All-Time
- 5 best hitters in Boston Red Sox history
- 5 best Red Sox pitchers of all-time
- 5 best shortstops in Red Sox history
- 5 best Red Sox outfielders of all-time
