In baseball, a player does not make a team. However, on the side of Baltimore, there is however a player who, on his own, changed the whole dynamic in the Orioles: Adley Rutschman.
Since coming to town, he’s brought a confidence and energy that has completely transformed the team. After years of misery, the Orioles got back to playing good ball and they were in the hunt for the playoffs until the end of the season last year.
With the emergence of Rutschman as well as the arrival of the other big prospects of the team (Gunnar Henderson and Grayson Rodriguez), we can expect the Orioles to find the playoffs very quickly.
And in the eyes of Aaron Boone, who saw his Yankees pack up against the Orioles yesterday, the young team is already one of the contenders for the World Series. Nothing less.
It may be a bit early to say such a thing, but on the merits, Boone may not be wrong. The young Orioles still have things to prove, of course, but we are talking about a formation that is full of talent and which will only gain in maturity.
The aura that Rutschman exudes is clearly contagious and it makes his teammates feel confident. It’s great for youngsters, but being surrounded by veterans like Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander is good too.
It’s a shame that Trey Mancini didn’t have the chance to live these beautiful years in Baltimore.
There may still be some doubts about the depth of the pitching staff, but the Orioles have a solid foundation in place and the club could be a threat in the American East for years to come.
And despite the presence of the Yankees, Jays and Rays (which are three powerhouses in the division), the Orioles have every reason to believe in their chances of making it through the playoffs.
- Speaking of Aaron Boone, his team is already badly affected by injuries. Josh Donaldson and Jonathan Loaisiga are the two most recent victims (and Tommy Kahnle will be out longer than expected)
