At 18, Eric Booth Jr. recently signed for $7.32 million, and the center fielder is already ranked as Baltimore’s top prospect, according to Baseball America, without having picked up a bat in the minors.

Henderson has appeared too tightly wound at times, as though the weight of the world is on his shoulders.

With nine games to play ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline, Baltimore is three games behind Boston for the last wild-card spot.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand was the offensive force for a team with little bite, collecing three hits.

“A lot of good, a lot of random stuff: concussion, ankle and this,” Rutschman said of his season thus far. “It’s been a fun year, but also it’s just frustrating to spend any time not playing.”

Boston finally took the lead for good in their 6-5 victory when Caleb Durbin walloped a solo homer off right-hander Tyler Wells in the eighth inning.

Baltimore announced Rutschman’s trip to the injured list Monday, a few hours before the club begins a critical series against the red-hot Red Sox.

“If you want to go to college and chase a career, I’m in full support of that,” the Orioles’ Chris Bassitt said. “But the reality of why this is going in place is nothing to do with that.”

“We have believed strongly in Kyle since he first joined the organization as a minor leaguer in 2019,” president of baseball operations Mike Elias said in a statement.

Assuming no games are impacted because of the prolonged negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement, the Orioles would begin the season on the road.

"It’s just a special, special moment to be embraced. Love Bake,” Rutschman said. “And to be able to catch him again is awesome.”

On Dec. 1, the current collective bargaining agreement will expire, and a lockout is expected to ensue.

Rutschman said he did not know if his agent and the Orioles have had talks around a new contract.

Rutschman finished last season with a .220 average and .673 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in a career-low 90 games. During the first half this year, Rutschman is hitting .253 with a .763 OPS. A trip to Philadelphia was his reward.

Harper crushed nine home runs in a span of 10 swings in the final minute, then went on to win the Home Run Derby at Nationals Park.

Blaze Alexander responded to a postgame comment from a Royals player, calling Vinnie Pasquantino’s statement a “weird take.”

After going 2-for-2 Sunday, Alexander is batting .312 with an .807 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.

The nature of this wide-open (read: subpar) American League is that there are many teams that can feel good about their general mediocrity.

Bradish did not allow a hit until the seventh inning as the Orioles won their third straight game.

The Orioles added elite speed to their farm system with an 18-year-old who hits left-handed and plays center field.