Adley Rutschman
A transformative catcher whose arrival in Baltimore signaled the dawn of a new, winning era for a historic franchise.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American baseball player·Birthday: February 6·Generation Z
Biography
Adley Rutschman, drafted first overall in 2019 out of Oregon State, made his MLB debut in May 2022 and reversed the Baltimore Orioles' fortunes from perennial losers to playoff contenders. At Oregon State he won a College World Series title and was the nation's most complete player. His switch-hitting power and on-base skills matter, but his work behind the plate—framing pitches, managing a young pitching staff with veteran poise—defines his value. Rutschman represents the modern catcher: an offensive force and a defensive quarterback. Born in 1998, he has made Baltimore believe in baseball again.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Adley was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Adley Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Adley's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected first overall in the 2019 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, signing a then-record $8.1 million bonus.
- Earned MLB All-Star selections in both 2023 and 2024, establishing himself as one of the game's premier catchers.
- Won the 2018 College World Series with Oregon State and was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2019.
Did You Know?
His mother, Carol, was a national champion hurdler at Oregon State.
Rutschman is a skilled musician who played the saxophone, piano, and drums growing up.
In college, he occasionally pitched, boasting a fastball that reached the mid-90s.
“My job is to handle the pitching staff and control the running game.”
