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SEATTLE — As if hitting dozens of home runs in the span of several minutes isn't impressive enough, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman upped the wow factor by blasting homers from both sides of the plate during MLB's Home Run Derby on Monday.
Rutschman — who was the first overall draft pick in 2019 and made his major league debut only last season — is a switch hitter, but batted left-handed for the entirety of his first three-minute period in the Derby. He crushed 21 home runs, but then switched to the right side after a short break for his final 30 seconds of bonus time, much to the surprise of the crowd and the TV announcers.
"How about this, Adley Rutschman will go from the right side," said ESPN's Karl Ravech. "He just blasted 21, the switch hitter turns around and his first one goes," he said as Rutschman hit a home run on the first pitch thrown to him.
"He should get double points for this," said Eduardo Pérez.
Rutschman would go on to hit six more homers in the span of 30 seconds for a total of 27, but was eliminated in the first round by Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox, who hit 28.
But the experience was still likely unforgettable for Rutschman, whose dad, Randy Rutschman, was pitching to him.
"Oh, it was awesome," he said when asked about the father-son moment. "We had a great moment out there, exactly what I pictured."
He said they decided to switch hit during the Derby "on the fly," after debating whether to do it.
Rutschman, who grew up a few hours south of Seattle's T-Mobile Park in Portland, Oregon, received a standing ovation from the hometown crowd but was still humble about the feat when asked about his 27 homers.
"I think it's respectable," he said.
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