The Orioles have put All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to yesterday, in a blow to Baltimore’s lineup ahead of a crucial three-game series in Boston against the Red Sox.
Rutschman has inflammation in his left wrist, the team said on Monday. He sat out Sunday’s series finale in Houston because of the injury, a day after he grimaced in pain during an at-bat during Saturday’s game against the Astros.
"It's been bothering him," Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said Monday before the Orioles' first game of the series in Boston. "We're at the point [to] get ahead of it, IL him, and do the best course of action to get him back at full ability."
Rutschman played in the All-Star game last week, started at catcher in the O’s first game back from the All-Star break on Friday, then was the designated hitter in Houston on Saturday, when he went 0-for-4.
"Anyone that's played the catcher position before, the left wrist, it takes a beating," Albernaz said. "That's your glove hand and him being a switch-hitter, hitting right-handed, that left wrist is always on the bat, so it takes an extra pounding."
Sam Huff is starting at catcher tonight against the Red Sox and batting ninth, as the Orioles’ other catcher, Samuel Basallo, aggravated what Albernaz termed as a “lingering” right shoulder injury during an at-bat on Sunday. Basallo is "day-to-day" with the injury, Albernaz said Monday.
The O’s brought up Chadwick Tromp for Norfolk as another catching option ahead of Monday’s series opener against the Red Sox, who've won 13 straight games. The O's are on a seven-game win streak making this series one of the most anticipated of the year.
This is Rutschman's third IL stint this season. He was in concussion protocol in June after being hit in the head by an errant throw and had ankle inflammation in April. He's been the engine of the offense in many ways in a resurgent 2026 that landed him in the All-Star game for the third time.
Rutschman will be eligible to return to the active roster no earlier than July 29.