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The Orioles have returned catcher Adley Rutschman to the active roster for the final six games of the 2025 season.

Rutschman was reinstated today from the 10-day injured list after recovering from a right oblique strain and completing his rehab assignment. Triple-A Norfolk’s season ended yesterday.

Rutschman is hitting .227/.310/.373 with 16 doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 85 games. He’s posted a .264 average and .764 OPS in his last 32 games but has been shut down twice with oblique injuries.

Rookie Samuel Basallo has handled regular catching duties in Rutschman’s absence, with Alex Jackson backing up. Interim manager Tony Mansolino explained yesterday that Rutschman would regain the starting job.

“Adley Rutschman is going to be your catcher here as long as we’ve got him,” Mansolino said. “He’s a really, really good catcher. The beautiful thing about Sammy Basallo is he’s also a very good first baseman. So between the first base position, the DH and the catching position, there is no doubt they can both be in the lineup at the same time pretty much every day.”

Rutschman hasn’t played since Aug. 17, and his return gives the Orioles a third catcher. Gary Sánchez also had a rehab assignment with the Tides but he remains on the IL.

Infielder Luis Vázquez was optioned to the spring training complex to create room for Rutschman. He went 8-for-50 (.160) in 32 games and tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings in emergency relief.

Playing time was scarce for Vázquez with Jordan Westburg and Jeremiah Jackson getting starts at third base, Gunnar Henderson at shortstop and Jackson Holliday at second.

The Orioles also announced that right-hander Scott Blewett cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to the spring training complex.

Blewett posted a 6.17 ERA and 1.414 WHIP in 13 games.

Here are the starters for the Tampa Bay series that concludes the final homestand of the season:

Tuesday: RHP Dean Kremer vs. RHP Ryan Pepiot
Wednesday: RHP Tyler Wells vs. RHP Shane Baz
Thursday: LHP Cade Povich vs. RHP Drew Rasmussen