BALTIMORE – In his first MLB Home Run Derby on Monday night in Seattle, Orioles star catcher Adley Rutschman put on a show right away.
Rutschman smashed 27 home runs in the first round. He grew up just three hours away in Portland, Oregon. The switch-hitter hit 21 home runs from the left side of the plate, then turned around and hit six home runs from the right side.
But even though he hit a lot of home runs, Rutschman lost to White Sox power hitter Luis Robert, who hit 28.
Still, Rutschman will remember that night for a long time.
He took part in the Home Run Derby in a field near his home, where his father Randy Rutschman was the pitcher.
Rutschman said that when his dad threw pitches, “we had a great time out there.” “Ever since I got older, he’s been throwing me BP.”It’s one of those times when a father and son do something that will always be remembered.
In Rutschman’s first full season in the major leagues, he has already been picked for his first Home Run Derby, and on Tuesday, he will play in his first All-Star Game.
Rutschman said, “It means a lot to be this close to home and have my dad throw me BP like it’s just another day at home in the offseason.”
Rutschman said that the last Home Run Derby he took part in was in Seattle when he was 8 years old.
This season, Rutschman has hit 12 home runs in 86 games. He has hit 25 home runs in less than two years in the major leagues.
Rutschman will play in the All-Star Game on Tuesday with teammates Austin Hays, Yennier Cano, and Felix Bautista.
“I’m happy. Rutschman said, “I don’t know how it will go.” “It’s going to be a lot of fun, and I think we’re going into it with the right attitude, which is that we’re going to try to enjoy ourselves and be there for each other.”
