Orioles News: Adley Rutschman Is An All-star

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

It’s not something that happens often, but last night was a good night to be an Orioles fan. The O’s took care of business on the field with their second straight win in Cincinnati, roughing up Hunter Greene en route to an 8-5 victory. Check out my recap of the action, and let us know your pick for Most Birdland Player in the comments.

In the midst of the Birds’ win, MLB unveiled the 2026 All-Star rosters, and congratulations are in order to Adley Rutschman, the Orioles’ lone representative. The Birds’ backstop is an All-Star for the third time in his career, becoming just the third catcher in O’s history to three-peat (along with Gus Triandos and Matt Wieters).

It’s a well-deserved honor for Rutschman, who, other than a couple of stints on the IL, is having a very nice bounceback season for the Birds. After a two-double performance last night, he’s got a .782 OPS, with eight home runs and 45 RBIs in 59 games. He’s also been stellar defensively, throwing out 37.5% of attempted basestealers, well over the league average of 23.5. By every measure, he looks a lot like the Adley of his previous All-Star seasons of 2023 and 2024, rather than the guy who struggled miserably in the second half of ‘24 and 2025 and was seemingly at a crossroads in his Orioles career.

Rutschman, the former #1 overall pick and top prospect in baseball, has meant so much to this Orioles franchise since he first arrived in the majors in 2022. When he was at his best, so were the Orioles; when he slumped, so did they. We’ve spent the last couple of years wondering if the best version of Rutschman would ever show up again.

Well, he’s answered that question. What we’re seeing in 2026 is vintage Adley Rutschman. And his All-Star selection is just more proof that Adley is so back.

Links

Rutschman joins rare O’s company with latest All-Star nod – MLB.com

When Craig Albernaz announced the news, Rutschman’s teammates lined up single file to give him hugs, which is adorable. It’s the ultimate Adley Hugs moment.

If MLB needs an All-Star replacement, Orioles’ Pete Alonso has a worthy case – The Baltimore Banner

I had expected Alonso to be the Orioles’ token All-Star representative, so I’m a little surprised he was excluded. But as Andy Kostka notes, there’s still a potential path for him to make the team.

Caden Hunter: Unheralded sixth-round draft pick is racking up strikeouts on O’s farm – Steve Melewski

There’s no chance you can guess who leads all O’s minor leaguers in strikeout percentage. … I mean, unless you read the title of the link. But if you didn’t, no chance.

Orioles’ Chris Bassitt is optimistic after undergoing rare back surgery – The Baltimore Banner

I’m glad, as a person, that Bassitt is pain-free and feeling good. That doesn’t mean I’m particularly excited to watch him pitch again.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Six former Orioles were born on this date, including one who’s still active in the majors, outfielder Austin Hays (31). He’s currently on the 60-day IL with the White Sox. Other ex-O’s with July 5 birthdays are right-handers Jay Spurgeon (50) and Tim Worrell (59), lefty Alberto Castillo (51), and the late outfielder Curt Blefary (b. 1943, d. 2001) and righty Arnie Portocarrero (b. 1931, d. 1986).

On this date in 1969, Orioles southpaw Dave McNally improved to a perfect 12-0 — his 14th straight winning decision, dating back to the previous year — with a complete game victory in Detroit. The O’s staked McNally to a 4-0 lead before he took the mound thanks to a first-inning outburst against future Oriole Pat Dobson, and a five-run eighth inning turned it into a 9-3 laugher. McNally would start the season 15-0 before finishing with a 20-7 record.

Random Orioles game of the day

On July 5, 2002, the Orioles lost a walkoff to the Rangers, 7-6, at The Ballpark in Arlington. The O’s had a 6-3 lead in the eighth before Alex Rodriguez smacked a two-run homer to shave the deficit to one. In the ninth, first baseman Jay Gibbons committed an error to spark a rally. The Rangers later tied the game on a groundout — which would have been the final out of the game if not for the error — and Frank Catalanotto followed with a walkoff single against O’s closer Jorge Julio. Tony Batista homered and Jason Johnson threw a quality start in the losing effort, while former (and future) Oriole Rafael Palmeiro went deep for Texas.