It’s too late to change the course of this season, but a core member of the Orioles returned Monday.

Adley Rutschman, who has been out since June 20 with a left oblique strain, was activated Monday prior to the start of a four-game series against the Blue Jays. It was Rutschman’s first stint on the injured list since making his debut in 2022, and he made an immediate impact in his first game back, going 3-for-5 with doubles from both sides of the plate and 2 RBI.

“Yeah, I think it’s huge,” right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin said of Rutschman’s return. “Just his presence alone, he’s an amazing teammate, amazing person. To have his bat back in the lineup, to have him back behind the dish, just means the world to these guys, and you can tell how much he means to these guys, just with the reactions of him being back in the clubhouse. Very excited to have him back and just looking forward to watching him play.”

Left-handed pitcher Keegan Akin, who was on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation, was also activated before Monday’s game. To clear space on the roster, the Orioles designated catcher Jacob Stallings for assignment and optioned right-hander Yaramil Hiraldo to Triple-A Norfolk.

It’s been a tough year to be an Orioles catcher — the team has used a franchise-record-tying six, with four on the injured list at the same time — and Rutschman even joked earlier this month that being a Baltimore backstop is one of the most dangerous jobs.

Maverick Handley (concussion) and Gary Sánchez (PCL sprain) are still out, while Chadwick Tromp (back strain) was reinstated but elected free agency instead of an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. Handley is “holding a bat” interim manager Tony Mansolino said, while Sánchez is out until at least September.

So Rutschman’s return provided not only a boost to the lineup but stability and a needed catching upgrade. Rutschman wasn’t putting up his best numbers prior to the injury — he was hitting .227 with a .691 OPS entering Monday’s game — but he is an improvement over Stallings, who hit .114 in 14 games with Baltimore.

For now, Rutschman will pair up with Alex Jackson, who was acquired earlier this month after Sánchez was placed on the injured list. The Orioles chose Jackson over Stallings, Mansolino said pregame, because he is a younger, more athletic player whose catching skills, the team believes, will improve as he gets to know the pitchers. Jackson is 7-for-26 with a 1.038 OPS.

Although the Orioles’ hopes of making the playoffs are all but over with the team now 10 games below .500 and preparing to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline, the rest of this season is an opportunity for Rutschman to set the tone for next year. The Orioles plan to compete in 2026, and getting Rutschman back to the form he showed in 2023 and the first half of 2024 would be a key part of that.

They are also using this time to try out a new lineup configuration. On Monday, Rutschman hit fourth behind Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg and Gunnar Henderson. Rutschman has primarily hit second in the lineup. Monday marked his 17th time hitting cleanup in his career.

“I’m fascinated by sticking him in that four hole sitting behind Gunnar, having a switch-hitter sitting right there and the effect of that on Gunnar and just trying to navigate our lineup,” Mansolino said. “If all four of those guys at the top are cooking and, you know, fulfilling and reaching their potential, it’s an absolute dynamic for hitters.”

In the first game with this order, Westburg had three hits but Holliday and Henderson each came up empty. But, with Coby Mayo, Colton Cowser and Cedric Mullins all homering, the Orioles were able to to beat the Blue Jays 11-4, a glimpse of what could have been had the team’s best hitters all been healthy and performing well earlier this season.

“I think all the guys in this locker room have a lot of confidence in each other,” Rutschman said. “Tonight, we were able to string together a lot of good stuff and, like I said, everyone’s got confidence in each other.”