Ever since Mike Elias took control of the Orioles front office prior to the 2019 season, the team has stated that their mission is to develop a “pipeline” of talent that allows them to remain a perennial contender without the need for another one of these deep rebuilds. Three full seasons later, that pipeline is still under construction and yet to produce much high-ceiling talent at the big league level. But that looks likely to change quite soon.
There has been speculation that Adley Rutschman, regarded by some as the top prospect in all of baseball, was the favorite to be named the Orioles starting catcher on Opening Day.