Orioles star catcher Adley Rutschman displayed a stellar performance in his first-ever MLB Home Run Derby Monday night in Seattle.
Rutschman belted 27 home runs in the first round. The Rutschman, who grew up just three hours away in Portland, Oregon, had 21 home runs from the left side of the plate, then turned around to the right side to hit another six home runs.
Fans were intrigued by his game despite losing to White Sox slugger Luis Robert, who had 28 home runs and advanced to round 2.
Adley Rutschman competed in the Home Run Derby with his father Randy Rutschman pitching, in a stadium not far from his hometown.
“We had a great moment out there,” Rutschman said about his dad tossing pitches. “Ever since I have grown up, he has tossed me BP. “It’s one of those father-son moments that is going to be a memory of a lifetime.”
“It means a lot to be this close to home, having my dad throw me BP, like it’s another day back at home in the offseason,” Rutschman said.
Rutschman already was named to his first Home Run in his first full season among the big leagues, and he will play in his first All-Star Game on Tuesday, where he will join teammates Austin Hays, Yennier Cano, and Felix Bautista in representing the Orioles.
“I’m excited. I don’t know how it is going to go,” Rutschman said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and I think we have a good mindset going in that we are going to try and enjoy the moment and be there for each other.”
Rutschman has 12 home runs in 86 games this season. In his less than two years in the big leagues, he has 25 home runs.