Adley Rutschman didn’t learn about his move to the Boston Red Sox in a clubhouse or on a field. He found out while sitting in a movie theater with three of his former Orioles teammates, ready to watch Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Colston Cowser, Ryan Mountcastle and Gunnar Henderson were with him when the trade news hit, and what was supposed to be a simple movie outing turned into a much heavier day. Jacob Calvin Meyer of the Baltimore Sun reported the scene, and Cowser described just how hard it landed.
“It was pretty emotional,” Cowser said. “All I could do was give him a hug and tell him that I'm here for him and I love him.”
The group never made it to the movie. Instead, they spent the day with Rutschman after Baltimore dealt away the catcher, a move that clearly cut deeper because of the relationships involved. The four have shared more than just a dugout, and for now, that chapter is over.
Rutschman’s entire big league career had been spent in Baltimore before this trade. The Orioles made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, and he went on to play 572 games for the club. He hit .254 with 69 home runs and 277 RBIs, earned three All-Star selections and won a Silver Slugger in 2023.
Now he heads to Boston, where the Red Sox paid a hefty price to get him and will expect him to play a major role if their plans for a deep playoff run come together. However it plays out from here, Rutschman’s Orioles years won’t be easy to forget, especially for the teammates who were with him when the news broke.
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