BOSTON – Adley Rutschman’s debut in the Red Sox organization took place on Saturday, as he kicked off a Minor League rehab assignment for Triple-A Worcester five days after the three-time All-Star catcher was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Orioles.
Coming back from left wrist inflammation, this was Rutschman’s first game action since July 18, and he was in the middle of the action with a solid afternoon.
How did he perform? Rutschman made his presence felt right away, showing his arm off in the top of the first, when he threw out Lehigh Valley’s Colby Thomas trying to steal second. He played five innings behind the plate before exiting.
Offensively, Rutschman drilled a two-run double, worked two walks and scored two runs.
What’s next? The expectation is that Rutschman will DH for Worcester on Sunday. After that game, the Red Sox will evaluate if he needs more time in the Minors or if they’ll have him report directly to Toronto for a four-game series that starts on Monday night.
What are they saying? “When you're talking about a player of his caliber and how long he's been around, I think he knows he knows his body,” said Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “And then you also trust the medical staff. When he comes back, it’s not like he's going to run back there and catch five days in a row. So that'll all be factored in.”
What else? The Red Sox have been the hottest team in MLB for the last six weeks. Adding Rutschman to that mix makes them even more imposing. Known throughout his career for how well he handles pitchers, Rutschman is looking forward to learning all the nuances of one of the most talented staffs in the Majors.