Adley Rutschman to Debut for Red Sox in Toronto, Slotting into No. 3 Spot After Trade

Adley Rutschman will make his Boston Red Sox debut Tuesday night in Toronto, going straight into a central role just days after the club acquired him at the trade deadline. According to MLB.com, Rutschman was activated before Boston’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre and is scheduled to catch and bat third. First pitch was set for 7:07 p.m. ET.

The move is notable not simply because Boston added a catcher, but because it is immediately treating Rutschman as a middle-of-the-order answer for an injury-hit lineup. The former No. 1 overall draft pick and multiple-time All-Star had been sidelined by left wrist inflammation, yet the Red Sox inserted him directly behind the plate and into the No. 3 spot as they entered Tuesday at 64-54. Toronto entered 57-63.

Rutschman had not appeared in a game since July 18 before a short rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester, according to MLB.com. In his first rehab game last weekend, he hit a two-run double, walked twice and threw out an attempted basestealer. He then served as Worcester’s designated hitter Sunday. Rutschman flew with the Red Sox to Toronto on Sunday night, and on Monday he caught a side session and took batting practice before Boston activated him Tuesday.

“It’s making sure you’re good in all aspects. Seeing how I recover from games, from catching, from hitting. Getting some right-handed and left-handed at-bats,” Rutschman told MLB.com during the process of testing the wrist.

Boston’s urgency is tied in part to the shape of its roster. The club remains without outfielder Roman Anthony, who has a partially torn tendon in his right ring finger, infielder Trevor Story, who is dealing with a sports hernia, and infielder Curtis Mead, who has a left wrist fracture. “Any time you’re going to add a middle-of-the-order bat into what you’re already doing, that’s exciting for our team,” interim manager Chad Tracy told MLB.com.

MLB.com described Rutschman as Boston’s key trade-deadline acquisition. The Red Sox acquired him from the Baltimore Orioles in a deal that sent right-handed pitching prospects Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, outfielder Enddy Azocar and catcher Carlos Narváez to Baltimore. Veteran catcher Jake Rogers also came to Boston in the trade.

Tuesday’s corresponding roster moves reflected how quickly Boston has turned to Rutschman. The Red Sox designated Rogers for assignment and moved Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the 60-day injured list, according to MLB.com.

Even with Rutschman active, Boston does not appear ready to push his workload too aggressively in his first days back. “I wouldn’t expect to see him back there three days in a row right out of the chute … That’s probably a little much,” Tracy told MLB.com. For now, though, the message from the lineup card was clear: Boston expects Rutschman to help immediately.