This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
NEW YORK -- How will Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo coexist on the same roster?
For several years, that was a question at the forefront of minds for Orioles fans. Rutschman (the 2019 No. 1 overall Draft pick and the former top prospect in baseball) arrived in the big leagues in May 2022 and immediately became the club’s starting catcher. He then earned All-Star nods in both ‘23 and ‘24.
Meanwhile, Basallo -- an international signee out of the Dominican Republic in January 2021 -- ascended Baltimore’s Minor League ranks and became the O’s top prospect. He earned his first big league callup last Aug. 17, then signed an eight-year, $67 million contract extension five days later, the first long-term extension of the Mike Elias era.
Since then, the 28-year-old Rutschman and the 21-year-old Basallo have proven they can coexist on the same roster -- and quite well, as they’re among the best catching duos in MLB.
“I’m biased, obviously. Get to watch these guys every day, watch them work, and yeah, I’d definitely say we have the best catching tandem,” said Orioles manager Craig Albernaz, a former Minor League catcher himself. “They're doing a great job at the plate, their at-bats have been awesome, and doing a great job of leading our pitching staff, which is the biggest thing for me, is how they influence every decision on that side of the ball. And doing a great job being prepared and working with our guys.”
The Orioles’ starting lineup has featured both Rutschman and Basallo nine times this year, often utilizing the DH spot (though Basallo can play first base as well). That number would likely be higher, though, if Rutschman hadn’t been on the injured list due to left ankle inflammation from April 11-20.
Rutschman and Basallo have both started four times since the former’s return, and they’ve shown how their inclusion makes Baltimore’s offense much more potent.
Coming back April 21 in Kansas City, Rutschman had a hit in each of the first six games he played, with four multi-hit performances during that span. The Oregon State product went 11-for-25 (.440) with four home runs and 14 RBIs over the stretch.
The most encouraging sign that Rutschman may be back to himself after a difficult second half of 2024, and an injury-plagued ‘25 campaign, is that he’s showing the ability to hit the ball the opposite way, using the entire field to his advantage. The switch-hitter entered Friday with a .356 average and a 1.067 OPS in 16 games.
“It just shows there’s adjustability in the box, his length in his swing,” Albernaz said, “and just being able to stay on and drive through the offspeed pitches.”
Basallo had a slow start to the year (hitting .140 with a .533 OPS in 16 games through April 18), but the left-handed-hitting backstop has started to show his offensive potential of late. During a six-game stretch from April 20 through Wednesday, he went 11-for-20 (.550) with two doubles, two homers and five RBIs.
“Sammy’s a phenomenal hitter and just continues to look better at the plate, more comfortable, taking his hits the other way. Mistake pitches up, he’s hammering,” Rutschman said. “He looks really good right now, and just super proud of the learning that he’s done.”
Through the Orioles’ first 31 games, Basallo had five home runs and Rutschman had four. They’re on pace to set the O’s record (since 1954) for total homers hit by primary catchers, which is 33 (accomplished three times):
1958: Gus Triandos 30, Joe Ginsberg 3
1993: Chris Hoiles (29), Mark Parent (4)
2000: Charles Johnson (21), Brook Fordyce (9), Greg Myers (3)
Also, there have been only two seasons in which two O’s primary catchers each hit 10-plus homers -- 2005 (Javy Lopez had 15 and Sal Fasano had 11) and 1998 (Hoiles had 15 and Lenny Webster had 10).
It will be more challenging for the Orioles to break the AL/NL record for home runs. The Mariners had 69 in 2025 -- 60 from Cal Raleigh and nine by Mitch Garver. But Rutschman and Basallo each have the type of power that’s capable of putting up 20 homers, if not 30.
Another benefit of having the two together? Basallo has a lot he can learn from Rutschman.
“He’s a leader here in this clubhouse, he’s been in this league for a while now,” Basallo said via team interpreter Brandon Quinones. “So yeah, I feel like the most important thing, the biggest thing, has been just seeing how he’s been as a leader in this clubhouse.”