(NYC) Baltimore Orioles wide receiver Adley Rutschman said Monday he’s going to play in the July 10 home run contest in Seattle.
He will then try to become the first receiver to win the competition.
Rutschman joins New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays first basemen Pete Alonso and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., as well as outfielders Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers) Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay Rays) and Julio Rodriguez ( Seattle Mariners).
In his second season with Baltimore, the Oregon native could become the third Oriole to win the competition, after Cal Ripken Jr. (1991) and Miguel Tejada (2004).
The last receiver to take part in the contest was Salvador Perez (Kansas City Royals) in 2015. His 28 home runs weren’t enough to defeat Alonso in the first round.
One of four Orioles representatives at the Summer Classic, he will become the second Baltimore player to enter the contest in three seasons. In 2021, Trey Mancini lost by a long ball to Alonso in the final.
The 2019 first overall pick, Rutschman is averaging .268/.374/.415 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs in 79 games in 2023.