Adley Rutschman goes #1 overall in the MLB Draft

Adley Rutschman gathered with his family and friends on Monday afternoon at the Oregon State baseball facility to celebrate being the overall number one pick in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft.

It was a moment that many people who follow the Beaver baseball program expected. Adley Rutschman comes from a long line of athletic greatness in his family, but the one characteristic that the family shares is humbleness. Adley is not a player that does a ton of talking about his talent. Rutschman lets his performance speak for him.

The talent that drips from Adley Rutschman is immense. The talent is so immense that he was intentionally walked with the bases loaded against Cincinnati. That’s how much teams feared the switch hitting catcher from Sherwood, Oregon this past season.

Rutschman has been gathering awards for his mantle in droves for the past few days. While being the overall number one pick in the MLB Draft is the latest honor, Adley Rutschman also took home some honors from the Pac-12 Conference.

Adley is also the POY in college baseball, POY of the Pac-12 Conference, Co-defensive POY in the Pac-12 Conference. Don’t forget about his Most Outstanding Player Award in the 2018 CWS. Rutschman is also a Golden Spikes Finalist in 2019.

What has made Adley Rutschman the most feared player in college baseball?

Adley Rutschman stats:

• .411 avg. (.408 in 2018)
• 17 homeruns
• .575 OBP
• .751 SLG
• 1.326 OPS
• 76 BB
• Switch hitting catcher who can hit for power as well as average.

While the season didn’t go the way the way the fans and Rutschman wanted it to go this is still a very proud moment for the program. What has happened in Corvallis for the past 10-15 years is nothing short of amazing.

The culture that Pat Casey developed over his coaching career at Oregon State has had a lot to do with the success of the program. This type of culture where the team is the most important thing and that you play for each other was tailored made for a player like Adley Rutschman.

The leadership Rutschman has displayed the last couple years has been exceptional. His handling of the pitchers he has caught, staying calm in big situations, and giving the coaches and teammates the credit is something that you only see in a certain number of athletes. It’s never been about himself in Adley’s world. It’s about the team and getting better everyday.

Oregon State is fortunate that Adley Rutschman is one of those athletes and that he is one of their own.

Rutschman was the big name that was back for the Beavers this past season and you knew when he was coming to bat. Heck, you knew when Adley was in the on-deck circle. People started pointing at him, people started to stand up, and the buzz in the stadium started to pick up. He’s the one baseball player this year that made my 14 year-old take his eyes off his cell phone when we saw the Beavers play in person a few times this season.

That told me everything I needed to know about the influence of Adley Rutschman.

Oregon State fans are proud of what Rutschman has done for the program and the school. All he has to do now to make Oregonians prouder is to go and tear up the minor leagues for a bit, then tear up pitchers in the Major Leagues, and throw out guys trying to steal on him in the Major Leagues.

Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

I think all Beaver baseball fans became a bit of a Baltimore Orioles fan on Monday afternoon. The bonus for Adley Rutschman is that he doesn’t have to change colors on his uniform.

All Beaver fans tip their cap to you Adley.