Around these parts, everyone knows the term “pi$$ed off for greatness.” It comes from the legendary Ray Lewis, Ravens linebacker from 1996-2012, two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl XXXV MVP, first-ballot Hall of Famer, and perhaps the most “make you run through a brick wall” motivational speaker of all time.
Being “pi$$ed off for greatness” means locking in on your craft in a laser-focused way, channeling all negative emotions into steely work ethic and steady progress toward desired outcomes.
For someone like Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, for whom everything in his athletic life seemingly came pretty easy and naturally for the first two-and-a-half decades of his life, there was no need to every be angry for greatness. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners out of high school, but instead went on to dominate at Oregon State University before being the #1 overall selection by the O’s in 2019, tore through the minor leagues, debuted in 2022 and put up 5.4 bWAR in 113 games as a rookie and basically spearheaded the team’s reversal of fortunes from laughingstock to playoff contender.
However, in 2024, Rutschman struggled for the first time at the professional level. For the first half of the season, everything was proceeding as expected, as Adley hit .300/.351/.479 with 15 HR and a wRC+ of 137 (third on the team behind Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg) through June 27, earning his second straight All-Star appearance.
Why did I choose June 27 as the cutoff date? Well, some pointed to Rutschman being hit on the hand by a foul ball that evening as the genesis of his problems.
Adley Rutschman was slashing .297/.350/.470 when he got hit in the hand by this foul ball on June 27.
Since that day, his slash line is .181/.281/.269
Pre-June 27 wRC+ from right side: 213
Post-June 27 wRC+ from right side: 67Something is going on with that right hand. pic.twitter.com/C3nM4jZNmz
— Avi Miller 🟦 (@AviMiIIer) September 10, 2024
Indeed, from June 28 until the end of the season, he fell off a cliff: .189/.279/.280, with just 4 HR and a 63 wRC+.
When asked about a potential injury in the latter months of the season though, Rutschman, manager Brandon Hyde, and GM Mike Elias all downplayed it.
The problems Adley had in the second half, can you figure it out at all? That’s all I get asked by people,” Hyde was asked.
Hyde wasn’t in the mood to elaborate on the bad second half by Orioles All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman, but he addressed it.
“I’ve answered this question a million times,” Hyde said. “I think that it’s a young player that just was dealing with some adversity. Giving everything he had on a daily basis, trying to get out of it, maybe trying too hard at times … I think he’s going to come back next year, and I think he’s going to be a different player.
But to anyone with eyes, the difference was stark. It’s admirable that the player refuses to blame an injury for his struggles, but…come on, man.
This week, in an interview with Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner, Adley again wouldn’t take the bait.
Rutschman hasn’t, and won’t, blame his second-half regression in 2024 on an injury. He was scratched from the lineup in August due to lower-back discomfort, and in June a foul ball struck his right hand. From June 28 onward, Rutschman hit .189 — a sharp demarcation from his .300 batting average through 77 prior games last season.
When asked whether any back or hand discomfort played a role in his slump, Rutschman avoided a direct answer.
“What I would say is, there are a lot of tiny things that can contribute to you being off just a little bit,” he said.
In the same interview, Adley channeled his inner Ray Lewis.
“I didn’t have to look very hard to find motivation this offseason,” Rutschman said. “You’re just pissed off for months. You’re like, ‘OK, let’s lock it in. Let’s go.’”
Per Kostka, the catcher “spent the winter stewing.”
As an Orioles fan, what more could you want to hear? It’s been disappointing seeing so many in Birdland seemingly turn their backs on him so quickly, calling him washed and poo-pooing anyone still clamoring to sign him to a contract extension (to be clear: there are valid reasons to hesitate on that, but “he can’t hit anymore” certainly isn’t one!).
The bet here is that Adley Rutschman is going to be just fine, and back to his All-Star, Top-3 MLB catcher self in 2025. Early returns this spring have been promising:
Adley Rutschman just homered off Grayson Rodriguez during live batting practice.
Adley now has bragging rights for the rest of spring training. pic.twitter.com/5dI8azQu0D
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) February 17, 2025
My god. Adley isn’t messing around. He did it again.
This time, off Albert Suarez, Rutschman blasted a home run to RCF on the 7th pitch of the at-bat. https://t.co/53K59SwNhU pic.twitter.com/LhUr2Ik1GB
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) February 17, 2025
Ooooh, those Ad-leans are great to see again.
If anyone in your fantasy league is trying to trade Adley, it’s an amazing time to buy low. He’s going to be that dude again this season. He’s ticked off for greatness and ready to kick the doubters in the teeth, figuratively speaking.
