If you looked at the Orioles’ 2022 schedule before the season, you might have — for once — been excited about the idea of an O’s-Royals matchup in early May. The series was supposed to mark the first career showdown between the two top prospects in baseball, Adley Rutschman and Bobby Witt Jr., who were selected first and second overall, respectively, in the 2019 MLB draft.
Alas, Rutschman’s triceps injury in spring training put the kibosh on that potential mano a mano. While Rutschman continues to work his way through his minor league rehab for the Orioles, Witt will have the mega-prospect stage to himself this series.