Adley Rutschman Crushes 27 Homers as a Switch-Hitter but Falls to No. 1 Seed Luis Robert Jr.
Adley Rutschman put on a show in the first round of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday, crushing 27 home runs from both sides of the plate. However, he ultimately fell to No. 1 seed Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox, who hit 28 home runs to advance to Round 2.
Rutschman, the Baltimore Orioles' top prospect, started his derby performance from the left side of the plate. He hit 20 home runs in his first 4 minutes, and then switched to the right side and hit 7 more in 30 seconds. His final total of 27 was the second-most in the first round, behind only Robert Jr.
"It was a lot of fun," Rutschman said after the derby. "I'm just glad I got to represent the Orioles and put on a show for the fans."
Rutschman's performance was a testament to his power from both sides of the plate. He has always been a switch-hitter, and he has shown that he can hit for power from both sides. In his minor league career, he has hit .281/.367/.504 with 68 home runs.
"He's a special talent," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. "He's got power from both sides of the plate. He's got a great swing. He's got a great approach. He's just a special player."
Rutschman is expected to make his major league debut with the Orioles later this season. He is one of the most exciting prospects in baseball, and his performance in the Home Run Derby only served to solidify his reputation as a future star.
Here are some other notable stats from Rutschman's performance in the Home Run Derby:
- He hit 10 home runs over 400 feet.
- He hit 6 home runs that were hit out of the park at T-Mobile Park.
- His longest home run was 465 feet.
Rutschman's performance in the Home Run Derby was a preview of what is to come from the young star. He is a rare talent with the potential to be one of the best players in baseball.

