Adley Rutschman

Adley Rutschman took a step back in 2024 compared to his stellar 2023 season. The 26-year-old appeared in 148 games, serving as the designated hitter in 45 of them, and slashed a disappointing .250/.318/.391. He hit 19 home runs, driving in 79 and scoring 68. His numbers in the second half of the year were abysmal, as he batted only .207 with only three home runs. Of most concern was his 100-point drop in OPS. Rutschman is being taken as the second catcher off the board, as there is hope that he can return closer to his 2023 numbers; however, his Statcast page suggests 2024 wasn't a terrible outlier of a season. There may be similar talent later in the draft.

Adley Rutschman delivers in Orioles' dominant win

Adley Rutschman went 2-for-6 with a double and two RBI as the Orioles trounced the Twins 9-2.

Fantasy Impact

This performance, while solid, reflects his season-long trend of moderate batting with occasional bursts of productivity. Rutschman's current season batting average sits at .252, which, combined with his 79 RBI and 19 home runs, positions him as a reliable, if not spectacular, fantasy option. His wOBA of .310 indicates decent on-base productivity, though his fantasy managers might be left wanting more consistency in power hitting and run production. Moving forward, Rutschman remains a steady presence in fantasy lineups, especially valuable in formats that reward on-base percentage and RBI.