Adley Rutschman, the talented catcher for the Baltimore Orioles, has announced that he will be a participant in this year’s Home Run Derby on July 10 in Seattle. Rutschman will be aiming to become the first catcher in history to win the event, and excitement is building around his involvement.
The announcement was made by the Baltimore Orioles on Twitter, where they posted a video showcasing Rutschman’s impressive home runs. The caption accompanying the video read: Get Your Popcorn Ready, adding to the anticipation surrounding Rutschman’s performance in the derby.
Rutschman will be joining a field of formidable competitors, including Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Randy Arozarena of the Tampa Bay Rays, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Julio Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners.
In his second season with the Orioles, Rutschman will have the opportunity to compete for the title in his native Pacific Northwest. If successful, he will join the ranks of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. (1991) and Miguel Tejada (2004) as the third Oriole to emerge victorious in the Home Run Derby.
The last catcher to participate in the event was Salvador Pérez of the Kansas City Royals, who hit an impressive 28 homers in 2021 but unfortunately lost in the first round to Alonso.
Rutschman’s inclusion in the All-Star Game roster only adds to the excitement surrounding his participation in the Home Run Derby. He has been performing impressively throughout the season, currently boasting a .268 batting average with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs.
As Rutschman gears up to compete in the Home Run Derby, baseball fans and enthusiasts eagerly await the opportunity to witness history in the making. Will he become the first catcher to win the event? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain – Rutschman’s presence in the competition is sure to make for an exciting and memorable event.
