"The way he calls the game" - Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin opens up on his excitement to partner with rising star Adley Rutschman (Exclusive)
Zach Eflin, as a result of his midseason trade, will be throwing to Adley Rutschman now. The young catcher is considered one of the best in baseball, and Eflin will be the latest pitcher to experience what the hype is about. He's heard about Rutschman, but now finally will be able to play with him.
Eflin is particularly excited about this partnership and what Rutschman does for his pitchers. He said in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda:
"I’ve always loved the way he’s interacted with pitchers. The way he calls the game, the way he sets up for pitchers. And he's still so young. So, it's been fun to watch him mature. And now, I’m looking forward to throwing to him more."
Rutschman is much younger than his newest Baltimore Orioles teammate. Eflin has seen him grow as a player and will now get a firsthand look at him. The Orioles have not been, incidentally, a much better team since Rutschman debuted in 2022.
Zach Eflin trade details
Zach Eflin was traded at the July Trade Deadline. After rumors that the Baltimore Orioles were interested in top starters like Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet proved to be without much substance, the Orioles went after Eflin.
The former Tampa Bay Rays starter was having a solid season, and manager Brandon Hyde is thrilled to get him. He said, via MLB.com:
“Very excited. I’ve heard unbelievable things about him. Postseason tested. He’s a true professional. Everybody talks about how great of a guy he is and what he can bring to the clubhouse and our pitching staff, and we’re looking for pitching, [so] it’s nice to add a quality starter like Zach.”
The Orioles sent a trio of prospects in return, so the Rays got the chance to restock their farm system. The Os had lost a couple of starters (John Means and Kyle Bradish) to injury, which left them in the market for a starter.
Neither Crochet nor Skubal were moved, as most big-name starting pitchers stayed put. Nevertheless, the Orioles addressed their need with Eflin.