The Orioles just cannot seem to catch a break.
In a very sudden development, Baltimore is placing All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman on the 10-day injured list with left ankle inflammation, the team announced on Saturday.
Rutschman was scratched from Saturday’s lineup against the San Francisco Giants with ankle discomfort just hours before the game.
Now, he will miss at least a week-plus.
The team is recalling catcher Maverick Handley from the Double-A Chesapeake Baysox in a corresponding move and designating right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott for assignment to make room.
Rutschman, a former Silver Slugger, was flourishing to start his 2026 campaign.
The 28-year-old slashed a .294 batting average and .855 OPS in his first 10 games this season for the O’s.
Before hitting the injured list, he was on pace to slug 74 doubles after raking six through the team’s first 13 games.
Realistic? Probably not, but this guy was seeing beach balls at the plate.
In the first game of the series against San Francisco on Friday, Rutschman collected two doubles in a three-hit night, the 10th two-double game of his young major league career. According to manager Craig Albernaz, it was on the first double that Adley felt something amiss.
Rutschman suffered his ankle injury running the bases Friday, per Albernaz. The ankle felt weird Saturday AM & got worse as day progressed.
Rutschman will get an MRI tomorrow, but Albernaz said putting him on the IL was to "nip this in the bud," suggesting it's not too serious. https://t.co/roabaA2yCM
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) April 12, 2026
It’s a brutal blow for the O’s, who lose one of the most efficient bats from a lineup that is struggling severely to begin the season. Rutschman ranks third on the team in hits (10) and batting average (.294) through the first 13 games.
The team needed quick insurance for its resurging young catcher, which, for the time being, will be Handley, though his time on the roster is expected to be short-lived.
The Double-A Baysox played at home this weekend and the 28-year-old catcher, who appeared in 16 games for Baltimore last season, was a member of the team’s taxi squad for their first road trip against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The O’s will likely pivot to Sam Huff as the backup catcher while Samuel Basallo assumes starting catcher duties for the time being.
Huff, 28, appeared in 20 major league games for the Giants last season before signing a minor league contract with Baltimore in the offseason. He was removed from the Triple-A Norfolk Tides’ Saturday game for a pinch hitter, suggesting the O’s are preserving his availability for his eventual major league call up.
McDermott, who posted a 15.58 ERA in four big league appearances for Baltimore last season, simply struggled to settle in.
In five games for Norfolk this season, all as a reliever, he has notched a 6.75 ERA, allowing four runs in just over five innings pitched.
Injury news didn’t end with Rutschman, however.
Saturday’s contest against the Giants has bred more unfortunate news as the injury bug claimed another victim: Ryan Mountcastle.
Baltimore’s bench first baseman, who entered the lineup after Rutschman was unprecedentedly scratched, seemingly blew out a tire as he stretched a line drive to center field into a double.
Mountcastle promptly exited the game with “left foot pain,” the team said. He was replaced at second base by outfielder Dylan Beavers.
And, as I’m writing this, another Oriole suffered an injury.
Third baseman Coby Mayo slid awkwardly into home plate that notched the O’s their fourth run of the game and gave them a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning.
He limped gingerly to the dugout after scoring, but fortunately remained in the game.
Baltimore’s bench is running thin with utility man Blaze Alexander the only available infielder in the dugout.
For the O’s, there are now seven players on the 10-or 15-day injured list and four on the 60-day injured list.
Keep these guys in bubble wrap!
