Orioles' Rutschman scores spring invite

Last year's No. 1 overall pick is headed to the big leagues -- for the spring, at least.
Last Monday, the Orioles extended a Major League Spring Training invitation to Adley Rutschman, according to MLB.com. The club's top prospect and baseball's top-ranked backstop is expected to join 22 other non-roster players invited at the team's big league camp in Sarasota, Florida. Baltimore officially released the invite list Tuesday.

Rutschman appeared in 37 games across three levels in 2019 after making his debut in late July following a bout with mononucleosis. The game's No. 6 overall prospect began in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, going 2-for-14 while walking twice over five contests. He homered once, a solo shot in his debut that marked his first-ever professional hit.
The 21-year-old's first taste of non-complex ball came a week later when he joined Class A Short Season Aberdeen. There he logged his best offensive numbers, finishing with a line of .325/.413/.481 with one homer, 15 RBIs, 11 runs and 12 walks in 20 games.

Rutschman finished the season with Class A Delmarva, putting together a .154/.261/.333 line over 12 appearances. He homered twice and drove in eight runs while drawing six free passes. All in all, he finished with a line of .254/.351/.423 between the three levels.
The Oregon State product's efforts earned him a spot on Baltimore's Organization All-Star team. His time with the Shorebirds, while brief, helped them lock up the title of MiLB Team of the Year for 2019.
Other ranked Orioles prospects headed to Major League Spring Training next month as part of Tuesday's announcement are No. 5 Yusniel Díaz, No. 10 Zac Lowther, No. 20 Alex Wells, No. 24 Rylan Bannon and No. 25 Mason McCoy. The remaining non-roster invitees are pitchers Cristian Alvarado, Ty Blach, Hunter Cervenka, Marcos Diplan, Tom Eshelman, Eric Hanhold, Brady Rodgers, Chandler Shepherd, Rob Zastryzny and Bruce Zimmermann; catchers Martin Cervenka, Taylor Davis and Bryan Holaday; infielders Malquin Canelo, Dilson Herrera and José Rondón and outfielder Mason Williams.