Nothing but gratitude -- and a pair of home runs -- in Rutschman's Camden return

BALTIMORE -- As Adley Rutschman made his first visit to Camden Yards as an opposing player, he said he held nothing but gratitude for the organization that drafted him.

Once Thursday night's series opener began, though, his bat told a different story.

Following a 45-second standing ovation in his first at-bat of his return to Baltimore, Rutschman turned on Brandon Young’s 1-1 curveball, driving it a Statcast-projected 377 feet over the out-of-town scoreboard in right.

Five innings later, Rutschman hammered Young's fastball a projected 389 feet into the seats in right-center.

Those were his 10th and 11th home runs of the season, his 38th and 39th at the ballpark where he spent the majority of his career, and the second and third for his new club.

It was an authoritative power show that came in stark contrast to his pregame expression of thanks for his previous organization, including Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias, who pulled the trigger on the blockbuster deal at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline that made the three-time All-Star a Red Sox catcher.

“I have a ton of respect for Mike,” Rutschman said before the game. “He’s got a tough job. He’s got to make tough decisions. And I always respect that he’s really good at what he does. And he has reasons for everything that he does. I’ve always had a good relationship with him.

“It’s just one of those things in baseball, that you kind of understand this business part of the business aspect of it. And he’s got to do what he thinks is best for the organization in the short term and long term. So I don’t have any ill feelings toward anyone in the Orioles' organization at all. It’s been nothing but positive, and will continue to be that way.”

Elias sent Rutschman, catcher Jake Rogers and cash considerations to the Red Sox for catcher Carlos Narváez and a group of four Minor Leaguers led by right-hander Anthony Eyanson, the No. 49 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline.

Rutschman was still on the injured list with a right elbow issue at the time. He has only played 15 games with the Red Sox, hampered more recently by a hyperextended right wrist that forced him to miss the past three games.

But he was slotted into the No. 3 spot in the lineup by manager Chad Tracy on Thursday.

“I want to be in the lineup for every game,” Rutschman said. “But it just kind of worked out that today I’m feeling good and I’m able to be back in there.”

He is sure to receive a raucous ovation from Orioles fans who still adore the former No. 1 overall Draft pick and Oregon State star, whose ascension to the Majors coincided with the end of a painful rebuild in Baltimore.

Rutschman’s rookie campaign came during an 83-79 season in 2022, the Orioles’ first winning campaign since 2016. They followed that with playoff appearances in '23 and '24.

“I’ve talked with a couple of guys, just about how it’s gone for them when they’ve been traded, and just going back,” Rutschman said. “From being here, it’s so many positive memories. I just kind of take stuff as it comes. But all new experiences.”

​

That’s perhaps why Rutschman’s departure felt so painful for many Orioles fans, even if several analysts suggested that Elias won the trade on paper.

With the club sitting at 54-58 at the time, it represented the end of the idea that the understated, well-liked switch-hitter would one day be the one leading the O's to a first World Series title since 1983.

Rutschman admitted lingering frustration that he never accomplished that in Baltimore.

“Especially at the time [of the trade], absolutely,“ Rutschman said. “ I think you always want to be able to achieve goals that you've set. At the beginning of the year and in years past, you’ve set goals at the beginning of the year. And in years past, you've set goals to win the World Series, and you come up short. But like I said, you have a new opportunity and a new situation. Today's a new day.”