Baz and Rutschman: A Familiar battery

BALTIMORE — When Shane Baz throws his first pitch to Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman early in Spring Training next month, it won’t be the first time they’ve been paired as batterymates. The new Baltimore teammates have a history – a successful, tho brief, one.

On July 11,2021,at Coors Field in Denver,Rutschman caught Baz in the second inning of that year’s MLB all-star Futures Game. It was a glimpse of future American League east rivals – Rutschman with the O’s, Baz with the Rays – working together on a big stage.

Baz really enjoyed the experience. He struck out two batters in a fast 1-2-3 inning.

“It went really well,” Baz said with a grin during a Zoom call with Baltimore media on Friday afternoon.”So, I’m excited to pick up where we left off. It feels like five years ago, but even in that one inning, I could tell what kind of guy [rutschman] is. He’s really working *with* you and giving it his all.”

Baz and Rutschman officially became teammates on Dec. 19, when the former was traded to Baltimore from the Rays.