BALTIMORE — Though not activated for the start of the Orioles’ six-game homestand against Washington on Friday night, two-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman appears to be nearing his return.
On the 7-day concussion injured list since getting hit on the left side of the head by an errant throw in the ninth inning of the June 18 loss at Seattle, Rutschman has increased his activity level in recent days and has responded favorably to this point. Of course, recoveries from concussions vary with some players returning in a matter of days and others — Brian Roberts and Heston Kjerstad being two Orioles-specific past examples — dealing with symptoms for multiple weeks or even months.
“Today, he has a full work day. I think he went outside and played catch already,” said manager Craig Albernaz about Rutschman three hours before Friday’s game. “He’s going to take [batting practice], so he’s trending in the right direction, so we want to make sure that he’s checking all the boxes and kind of go from there.”
Taking swings from both sides of the plate during batting practice, the switch-hitting Rutschman appeared comfortable and hit multiple balls into the left-field seats and another over the out-of-town scoreboard in right field. How the 28-year-old responds to such baseball activity will determine whether he’s activated in the next day or two as the Orioles will want to make sure no concussion-related symptoms return.
In 54 games this season, Rutschman is batting .254 with eight home runs, 15 doubles, 40 RBIs, and a .787 on-base plus slugging percentage and has played very good defense.
Despite the Nationals starting left-hander Andrew Alvarez on Friday night, lefty-swinging second baseman Jackson Holliday was back in the starting lineup for the first time since groin discomfort forced him out of the second contest of a three-game set at Dodger Stadium last weekend. Holliday did enter Wednesday’s loss against the Angels in the ninth inning, striking out against Los Angeles right-hander Sam Bachman.
“I wouldn’t say totally over [the groin issue], but he’s in the lineup tonight playing second base,” Albernaz said. “He pinch-hit in the last game against the Angels, so he’s trying to get in the right direction too.”
After missing the first 48 games of the season recovering from a fractured hamate bone suffered days before the start of spring training, Holliday, 22, is batting .198 with four homers, 12 RBIs, and a .667 OPS over 99 plate appearances.
The Orioles were also monitoring a trio of rehabbing players Friday night with right-hander Dean Kremer (right quadriceps strain) starting for Triple-A Norfolk, lefty Cade Povich (left elbow inflammation) pitching for Double-A Chesapeake, and outfielder Dylan Beavers (right oblique strain) playing in another game for the Tides.