Adley Rutschman, widely regarded as the face of the Baltimore Orioles franchise, has had an abysmal second half. What can he do to turn it around?
Selected with the first pick in the 2019 MLB draft, Rutschman was a bonified star from day 1. He quickly moved through the minor leagues, and in early 2022 made his MLB debut. Not only was his debut special because he was a former top prospect, but because that day was when the Orioles quit their losing ways. Since Rutschman’s debut on May 21, 2022, the Orioles have a .586 winning percentage, the third-best in the league. Rutschman marked the turning point for the Orioles. He then made his first All-Star game last season, and had a great first half this season, earning his second All-Star nod. However, Rutschman has struggled mightily in the second half of 2024. Similarly to how the Orioles were great because of Rutschman, they are now in danger of missing the postseason, partially due to Rutschman’s struggles.
Adley Rutschman’s Lowly Second Half
While the Orioles season has taken a bad turn, so has Rutschman’s. The backstop batted a .275/.339/.441 line in the first half, whereas he is hitting.207/.269/.337 after the All-Star break. Rutschman’s first-half on-base percentage is higher than his second-half slugging percentage, highlighting his dip in efficiency. It shows how Rutschman’s power has become almost non-existent. Rutschman hit a home run on average every 22.7 at-bats in the first half of the season. But in the second half, Rutchman has a home run just twice in 92 at-bats, equating to on average, a home run every 46 at-bats. Essentially every stat shows that Rutschman has had a huge drop off since July.
Since July 1st, Adley Rutschman has a wRC+ of 58 and an fWAR of -0.2
— Matt Kremnitzer (@mattkremnitzer) August 23, 2024
Looking back on his previous seasons, Rutschman’s biggest decline has been his walk percentage. Between 2022-23, Rutschman walked over 13 percent of the time. That made Rutschman a big-time threat at the top of the lineup because his OBP was extremely high. However, his walk percentage in 2024 is just 8.7 percent. Rutschman is drawing fewer walks, causing his performance to take a hit. The number one thing Rutschman needs to do to regain his old form is to become more patient at the plate.
How Can Rutschman Get Back on Track
As aforementioned, Rutschman needs to draw more walks again, but what else can he do? The best thing Adley can do is to keep hitting the baseball. Many of his expected stats are higher than his actual stats. That means Rutschman is getting unlucky, and is due for a turnaround on that front. Another key thing Rutschman can work on is improving his hitting against offspeed pitches. In 2023, Rutschman hit .283 against offspeed but has hit just .184 this season. The biggest cause of this is Rutschman whiffing over 5 percent more against offspeed this season than last season. If Rutschman can work through this issue, he’s destined for a strong finish.
The Orioles Need a Productive Rutschman
Before the All-Star break, when Rutschman was producing, the Orioles were 58-38. But since the break, Rutschman has struggled, and so have the Orioles, who are 16-17 in that timeframe. Heading into September, where the Orioles will fight to claim their second straight American League East title, they need a productive Rutschman. His performance down the stretch will certainly indicate where the Orioles will finish. Hopefully, Rutschman can turn his season back around, and help lead the Orioles back to the postseason.
Main Photo: © Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
