The Baltimore Orioles got some good news Sunday morning. Catcher Adley Rutschman has been activated from the 7-day concussion injured list and is back in the lineup for the series finale against the Washington Nationals.
Rutschman hasn’t played since June 18, when he took a hit to the head during a game against the Seattle Mariners. Concussions in baseball are tricky. Players can feel fine, but the team has to be careful. The Orioles are being exactly that.
Rutschman Is Back, But Not at Catcher Right Away
The team’s official account on X announced the reinstatement Sunday. But here’s the thing: Rutschman might not be crouching behind the plate just yet. According to RotoWire, the Orioles plan to ease him back in. They’ll likely use him at designated hitter for a few games, just to make sure the concussion is fully in the rearview mirror before he takes foul tips to the mask again.
It’s smart. Concussions are no joke, and the Orioles don’t want to rush their All-Star backstop into the most dangerous position on the field. He’ll still be in the lineup, getting at-bats. Just not catching every inning right away.
The Orioles Need a Spark, and Fast
Baltimore sits at 39-45, fourth in the AL East, 10 games back of the Yankees and Rays. That’s not where anyone expected them to be. The offense has been inconsistent. The pitching has been a mess. Getting Rutschman back — even if he’s just hitting — should help stabilize things a little.
But let’s be real. One guy coming back from a concussion isn’t going to fix all of this. The Orioles need their rotation to hold up, their bullpen to stop blowing leads, and a few other bats to wake up. Rutschman can only do so much.
The team faces the Nationals on Sunday, then starts a three-game home series Monday against the Chicago White Sox. That’s a winnable stretch. And with their catcher back in the fold, maybe things start looking up in Baltimore.
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