Adley Rutschman Took a Throw to the Head. Now the Orioles Are Playing Short-Handed.

Baltimore’s catcher took a hard hit Thursday night and won’t be back behind the plate for at least a week. Adley Rutschman landed on the 7-day concussion IL on Saturday after a ninth-inning throw from Seattle shortstop Colt Emerson caught him on the left side of the head during a double-play attempt. The Orioles made the move retroactive to Friday, meaning Rutschman could return June 26, when Baltimore starts a homestand against Washington.

It’s his second IL stint of the season. He missed 10 days in April with left ankle inflammation. This time the injury looked scarier. Rutschman hit a ground ball to Emerson, who stepped on second for the force out and fired to first. The throw arrived at close range and caught Rutschman flush. He left the game immediately and sat out Friday while doctors ran tests.

The Orioles didn’t rush him back. They waited a day, monitored symptoms, and made the call before Saturday’s game at Dodger Stadium.

What Baltimore Loses

Rutschman is hitting .254 with an .787 OPS and eight home runs in 54 games. That doesn’t jump off the page, but his underlying numbers do. He’s putting up a .204 isolated power number — the best full-season mark of his career — and his 118 wRC+ is right in line with what he’s done since 2023. He also leads the team in doubles with 15.

But his value goes beyond the box score. Behind the plate, Rutschman has already racked up 1.9 fWAR this season. That’s more than he posted in all of 2025 (1.2 fWAR), when he played nearly twice as many games. His resurgence has been the difference between Baltimore being a fun spoiler and a legitimate playoff threat. The Orioles sit at 35-42, but they’re only 3.5 games out of an AL Wild Card spot with a 21.4% playoff probability per FanGraphs. Their actual record matches their expected record based on run differential, which is weirdly encouraging for a team that’s been underwater most of the year.

Who Steps In

Rookie Samuel Basallo gets the nod as the primary catcher. He’s the top prospect in the organization and probably the future at the position, but this is a trial by fire. Sam Huff stays on as the backup, and Chadwick Tromp joined the taxi squad as extra insurance for the West Coast trip.

To fill the active roster spot, the Orioles recalled outfielder Michael Siani from Triple-A Norfolk. Siani, 26, has bounced between the Reds and Cardinals since 2022. He hasn’t hit much at either Triple-A or the majors, but his glove is legit. Baltimore is betting on defense and depth until Rutschman clears the concussion protocol.

There’s no timeline beyond the minimum seven days. Concussions are tricky. Rutschman will have to pass a series of tests before he’s cleared to catch again. For a team that’s already fighting uphill, every game without him matters.