Elite defense proving 3-time All-Star Rutschman is 'still that guy'

BALTIMORE -- Joe Singley remembers the first time he saw Adley Rutschman play in person.

It was March 10, 2019, when both Rutschman and Singley were college catchers for Oregon State and Coastal Carolina, respectively. The two teams faced off at T-Mobile Park for the Seattle Baseball Showcase, with the Beavers and Chanticleers playing to a 4-4, 11-inning tie.

Singley was injured at the time, so he got to watch Rutschman closely. He thought the Oregon State backstop looked like a future star -- hence why Rutschman got selected by the Orioles with the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft less than three months later.

“You could tell -- the demeanor, the work ethic, the character that he has,” Singley said.

Now Baltimore’s field coordinator and catching coach, Singley is working with Rutschman on a daily basis during the 2026 season. That assignment was a major factor in why Singley took the job on first-year manager Craig Albernaz’s staff when he received the offer last November.

“That’s one of the biggest reasons why I jumped on this opportunity, is I’m a big believer in his ability on and off the field,” Singley said. “So to get a chance to work alongside him and watch his progression is something I take a lot of pride in.”

Something else Singley can take pride in? His role in what may end up being the best defensive season of Rutschman’s five-year MLB career thus far. Rutschman’s play behind the plate is a big reason why he was selected to be an All-Star for the third time and will be representing the Orioles during the Midsummer Classic on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Though Singley and Rutschman are the same age (both 28), the former has already been regarded as one of the top catching minds in the sport in recent years. His instruction in Spring Training led to Rutschman modifying his catching style, moving to a right-knee-down stance for the first time.

The shift has led to strong results for Rutschman, and the numbers speak for themselves.

Entering Friday, Rutschman has thrown out 16 of 43 potential basestealers this year, a rate of 37.2% that would rank as his career best, well ahead of the 30.6% mark he set during his 2022 rookie season.

Rutschman also ranks in the 97th percentile in both caught stealing above average and framing, according to Baseball Savant.

“I take a lot of pride in it,” Rutschman said. “For me, hitting is one of those things that you can hit the ball hard and it can still be an out. But I always feel like defense is a lot more controllable, and I really enjoy all aspects of catching and being behind the dish, working with guys and being able to do what you can to help win the game on both sides of the ball.”

But Rutschman is having a solid offensive season as well. Through 63 games, he is hitting .256 with 18 doubles, one triple, eight home runs and a .774 OPS.

In all, it’s been an impressive bounce-back showing for Rutschman, who entered the year looking to return to the form he showed during the first half of the 2024 season and before. After a down second half to that year, he had an injury-marred ‘25 in which he was limited to 90 games due to a pair of oblique ailments.

“That was the biggest focus all offseason is just trying to, one, stay healthy, and two, just get myself in a position to be able to have the most success possible,” Rutschman said. “I have a lot of really supportive people helping me with all aspects -- physical, mental, emotional. For me, it’s just a culmination of that to be able to get here now and to just kind of continue to progress.”

While meeting with the media for one of the first times in early April, Singley made sure to praise Rutschman’s pedigree as a former No. 1 Draft pick and noted how he’s “still that guy.”

The past three months have proven Singley right. And they’ve also shown that Rutschman may not have even reached his ceiling yet.

“As the 1-1 and the top prospect and to actually have that work show through immediately and make immediate impact, it’s really tough, especially at the catching position. And so for Adley, it’s awesome,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “He’s constantly trying to chase his potential, and that’s how you sustain longevity in this game, is you don’t get satisfied with where you’re at, you’re continually trying to find ways to get better and keep pushing.”