Adley Rutschman gives Orioles safety in uncertainty

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Mike Elias’ first message to the next franchise cornerstone in Baltimore had historical significance.

“Long time, no see.”

On Monday night, the Orioles selected Oregon State catcher Adley Rutschman with the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB draft.

The 21-year-old is the first backstop selected 1-1 since Joe Mauer went to the Twins in 2001, and the California Angels selected Danny Goodwin in 1975.

Rutschman, the Orioles’ first No. 1 overall pick since Ben McDonald 30 years ago, instantly becomes the face of a rebuild for a team coming off a 47-win season.

“It's one of those things that's out of my control, and I'm fortunate enough to be able to do it,” Rutschman said. “It's definitely a huge honor and I'm looking forward to it.”

It’s hardly a safe play to bank a franchise-altering decision on something that’s happened only twice in the previous 44 years. But it’s also hard to find a hole in Rutschman’s game.

The Golden Spikes finalist batted .234 as a freshman, then batted a combined .416 over the next two seasons. He led the charge for the 2018 College World Series champions. He amassed 171 RBIs over 180 games in college, and drew 149 free passes -- including an intentional walk with the bases loaded Saturday.

Elias was impressed by Rutschman’s intelligence and kindness when they met during this offseason.

So what’s wrong with him?

According to his college coach, Pat Bailey, he’s too nice. He’s too mature. He stays too late to sign autographs.

He meets with every pitcher. Between every inning.

“When he first started doing that I was thinking, 'Ok, Adley. This isn't high school anymore, you don't need to do that,’” Bailey said before admitting he eventually gave in to the charms of this quirk.

“I feel like I'm invested in each pitcher,” Rutschman said. “I want each one to succeed. I feel like that's very important, and something I can control every day when I come to the diamond.”

Rutschman was the kicker on the Oregon State football team his freshman season. Bailey said that football played a role in his difficult freshman season, and that the decision to focus on one sport led him becoming a transformative talent.

Pat Casey, who coached the Beavers from 1995 to 2018 and served as an analyst for MLB Network on Monday, felt that Rutschman could have been an NFL kicker.

That’s right, even his negatives are positives.

“It’s hard to know where to start with Adley Rutschman,” Elias said in a statement after the pick. “He’s everything you want, and he plays a premium defensive position.”

Elias inherited the No. 1 overall selection more than six months ago when he took over as the Orioles general manager. He built the foundation for the 2017 World Series champion Astros as the team’s scouting director six years prior.

He comes from an organization that endured an information hacking scandal, and played things very close to the vest in his first draft as a general manager.

“We try to maximize the time allowed to us,” Elias said.

The “rumblings” that the Orioles may change course weren’t nearly as prominent as the prognosticators predictions that Rutschman would be called first. But until the pick became official, the Portland native didn’t know what to expect.

“There's always doubts. You never know how it's going to shape out or what the organization is thinking,” Rutschman said. “There was doubt, and you just didn't know it was going to happen. But it ended up working out for the best.”

A switch-hitting catcher akin to former Orioles phenom Matt Wieters, Rutschman has been called the best catching prospect since Buster Posey.

The Giants are already developing the future replacement for Posey, Joey Bart, the No. 2 overall selection last year.

Bart also called his own games at Georgia Tech, which is something missing from Rutschman’s list of responsibilities at Oregon State. That job fell on one of the best pitching coaches in the country, Nate Yeskie.

But in two summers with the USA Baseball Collegiate National team, Rutschman called the shots for a staff that had a combined 2.11 ERA in more than 300 innings.

“It is definitely one of those areas that you learn about when you get to pro ball,” he said. “Analytics that they have for each hitter. That will be fun for me to learn. And I'm looking forward to it.”

Elias made note of Rutschman’s defensive ability in his statement. He also raved about the “athleticism that gives him the versatility to play elsewhere, as needed.”

For now, it seems that Rutschman has what it takes to stick at catcher, and rise to the big leagues quickly. But, similar to the way he felt until his name was called, Rutschman just doesn’t know.

“I'm excited to find out,” he said. “I trust the front office at Baltimore and I'm sure they're going to make a great decision.”