MLB Prospect Outlook: C Adley Rutschman (BAL)

Bio

Pos: C

Throws: Right | Bats: Switch

Ht: 6’2″ | Wt: 215 lbs.

Hometown: Portland, OR

School: Oregon State

Draft: 1st Rd [1st] in 2019

Signed: $8.1M

Age: 21 (2/6/1998)

Level [’19]: NCAA/Rk/A-

ETA: 2020

Facts to Know

6th Catcher in MLB history to be selected No.1 overall; First since Joe Mauer in 2001
Led Oregon St. to become College World Series Champions in 2018
Named Most Outstanding Player of College Baseball Playoff after collecting a record 17 hits & 13 RBIs
Surpassed Jacoby Ellsbury’s single-season hits record in Oregon St. history (102)
Played on OSU football team freshman year as kickoff specialist (59.5 yds/kick)
He recorded one tackle in his NCAAF career, tackling Stanford’s PAC-12 OPOY Christian McCaffrey when he was bound for a touchdown. C-Mac is now an All-Pro RB for the Carolina Panthers
The only 1st overall pick in Oregon State history

Natural Talent

Pros

Plus power potential
Very athletic frame for Catcher
Smooth swing on both sides of the plate
Plus arm strength
Best player on the team his whole life

Cons

On the slow side on the basepaths

Grade: A

Development

Pros

Developed left-handed & right-handed stroke
Remarkable plate discipline
Quality blocker/receiver behind the plate
Smart baserunner

Cons

Can improve framing abilities
Excess effort in right handed swing
More of a gap hitter than HR hitter most of collegee

Grade: B+

Production

Pros

More BBs than SOs in 2018 & 2019
Excellent .411/.575/.751 batting line in College during 2019
Career .352/.473/.559 hitter @ Oregon St.
100+ hits as a Junior
17 HRs in 57 GP as a Senior in 2019
2x as many BB than SO in ’19

Cons

Only 11 HRs combined in 2017-2018

Grade: A

Risk

Pros

MVP of College World Series
Led Oregon St. to National Title
Delivers in the clutch, has that X-factor
Likely No.1 pick all year
Handled pressure of being the best his entire life
Ridiculous college production
Very athletic catcher
Makeup/Character is a plus

Cons

None

Grade: A+

Overall

Adley Rutschman was viewed as the clear-cut No.1 pick ever since the 2018 MLB Draft concluded. Well-respected prospect outlet, Baseball America considers Rutschman the best MLB prospect since Bryce Harper was once dubbed “The Chosen One.” If the Oregon St. product lives up to the hype, he’ll be a key catalyst in changing the Baltimore Orioles franchise around.

Pro Comp: C Joe Mauer (2001 No.1 Overall Pick)

Prospect Grade: A