The youngest player currently on the Baltimore Orioles roster is catcher Adley Rutschman, who was born on February 6, 1998. At 24 years old, Rutschman is the only Orioles player born in the 1990s. As the #1 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, big things are expected from Rutschman as he develops into one of the faces of the Orioles franchise.
Adley Rutschman’s Background
Adley Rutschman was born on February 6, 1998 in Sherwood, Oregon. He attended Sherwood High School where he was a standout both as a catcher and pitcher. After being drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 40th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Rutschman opted to attend Oregon State University to play college baseball rather than go pro out of high school.
At Oregon State, Rutschman’s collegiate career was nothing short of spectacular. As a freshman in 2017, he helped lead the Beavers to a College World Series championship while being named the College World Series Most Outstanding Player. During his sophomore and junior seasons in 2018 and 2019, Rutschman solidified himself as the top amateur prospect in the country, winning back-to-back Golden Spikes Awards as the best player in college baseball.
The Baltimore Orioles selected Rutschman with the first overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, making him the first catcher to ever be selected number one overall. The Orioles signed Rutschman to a record-setting $8.1 million signing bonus, the largest upfront bonus ever given to an MLB draft pick.
After signing with the Orioles, Rutschman made his professional debut in 2019 in the minor leagues. He quickly ascended through the Orioles farm system, showing the same elite hitting skills and defensive abilities behind the plate that made him such a coveted draft prospect.
Rutschman was ranked as the #1 prospect in baseball by multiple publications leading up to his MLB debut in 2022 at the age of 24.
Youngest Players in Orioles History
While 24 years old makes Adley Rutschman the youngest current Oriole, he is far from the youngest player to ever suit up for the Baltimore franchise. Here is a look at some of the youngest players in Orioles history:
– Bob Stephens – 17 years old. Stephens appeared in 3 games for the Orioles in 1958 at just 17 years, 316 days old. He remains the youngest player to ever play in an MLB game for Baltimore.
– Frank Bolling – 18 years old. Bolling made his Orioles debut in 1954 at 18 years, 336 days old. He played 6 seasons with the Orioles as a second baseman.
– Jay Dahl – 19 years old. Dahl pitched in 3 games for the Orioles in 1963 at 19 years, 318 days old.
– Mike Adamson – 20 years old. Adamson pitched in 1 game for Baltimore in 1967 at 20 years, 67 days old.
– Jim Palmer – 20 years old. Palmer made his Orioles debut in 1965 at the age of 20 years, 70 days. The Hall of Fame pitcher went on to spend his entire 19 year career with Baltimore.
While Rutschman is not close to being the youngest Oriole ever, he carries the torch of being the youngest on the current Orioles squad. At just 24 years old, he has many more prime years ahead of him in Baltimore.
How Young is Too Young in MLB?
The cases of players like Bob Stephens and Frank Bolling suiting up for MLB action as teenagers raises the question – how young is too young to play at the top level of professional baseball?
The MLB rulebook requires that all players must be at least 17 years old to sign an MLB contract. This allows for rare cases like Stephens to reach the big leagues as young as 17, though this has not happened in the modern era.
Realistically, most players do not make their MLB debuts until their early 20s at the youngest. The average age for MLB debuts in 2021 was 24.6 years old. Experts agree that players require time in the minor league system during their late teens and early 20s to fully develop both physically and mentally for the rigors of MLB.
Rare talents occasionally come along who force teams’ hands at promoting them to the big leagues at very young ages. Players like Bryce Harper, Justin Upton, and Juan Soto debuted as teenagers after quickly outgrowing the minors. But teams must be cautious about rushing prospects too quickly before they are ready, as it can stunt their development when overmatched at too young an age.
The consensus seems to be that 19-20 years old is the very youngest a player should typically be considered ready for their first MLB action. Any younger requires exceptionally advanced skills and maturity beyond their age. Adley Rutschman’s debut at 24 years old is much more in line with the modern norm for prospects reaching the majors.
Youngest Active Players in MLB
While Rutschman is the youngest Oriole, how does he compare to the youngest players across Major League Baseball? Here is a look at the youngest active MLB players right now:
– Julio Rodriguez, Mariners – 21 years old (born December 29, 2000)
– Sixto Sanchez, Marlins – 23 years old (born July 29, 1998)
– Jo Adell, Angels – 23 years old (born April 8, 1999)
– Nolan Gorman, Cardinals – 22 years old (born May 10, 2000)
– Riley Greene, Tigers – 22 years old (born September 28, 2000)
– Bryson Stott, Phillies – 24 years old (born October 7, 1997)
– Adley Rutschman, Orioles – 24 years old (born February 6, 1998)
– Jeremy Pena, Astros – 25 years old (born April 26, 1997)
– Bobby Witt Jr., Royals – 22 years old (born June 28, 2000)
– MacKenzie Gore, Padres – 23 years old (born February 24, 1999)
Rutschman finds himself right in the mix among the youngest players in the MLB. Julio Rodriguez of the Mariners is the lone player younger than 21, showcasing his uber-prospect status debuting at just 20 years old in 2022. But Rutschman is firmly among the next wave of young talent making their mark on the big leagues at age 24 and younger.
The Future is Bright for Young Orioles Stars
While the Orioles have struggled in recent seasons, the future is looking brighter for young stars like Adley Rutschman to lead the next generation of O’s baseball. Along with starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (22 years old), infielder Gunnar Henderson (21 years old), and outfielder Colton Cowser (22 years old), Rutschman represents the vanguard of an emerging youth movement in Baltimore.
Orioles fans suffered through several losing seasons as the team stockpiled draft picks and developed a deep farm system. With Rutschman, Rodriguez, Henderson and others now reaching the majors, the payoff is finally here for the Orioles’ rebuilding efforts. For a franchise that has seen too many losing seasons over the past decade, the injection of elite young talent has brought renewed energy and optimism.
Rutschman’s development into a core star will be central to any future success for the O’s. As the youngest player on the roster, the organization needs him to quickly transition into being one of the faces of the franchise. His emergence as a leader on and off the field will set the tone for other top prospects arriving soon. The combination of his elite talent and maturity beyond his 24 years of age inspires confidence that Rutschman is ready to be the cornerstone of the next great era of Orioles baseball.
While a return to the playoffs may still be a year or two away, Orioles fans impatiently waiting to be excited about their team again finally have reason for hope. There will surely be growing pains along the way for the young Orioles stars, but the foundation is being built for sustainable success. Anchored by the switch-hitting catcher who is mature beyond his years, the future is undeniably bright in Baltimore.
Conclusion
At just 24 years old, Adley Rutschman is the youngest player on the current Orioles roster. While he is far from the youngest player in franchise history, Rutschman represents the vanguard of an incoming wave of elite Orioles prospects reaching the majors and bringing renewed optimism to the team. Along with fellow young stars like Grayson Rodriguez, Gunnar Henderson, and Colton Cowser, Rutschman will play a pivotal role in trying to guide the Orioles back to contention and relevancy after several losing seasons. If Rutschman lives up to his billing as the #1 overall draft pick and top prospect in baseball, his emergence as a franchise cornerstone could mark the beginning of a new era of O’s baseball led by the youngest core of talent the team has seen in decades.