September 13: The Nats have now made it official, recalling Rutledge with righty Mason Thompson optioned in a corresponding move.
September 12: The Nationals are recalling pitching prospect Jackson Rutledge to make his major league debut tomorrow against the Pirates, skipper Dave Martinez told reporters (including Bobby Blanco of MASNsports.com). Grant Paulsen of 106.7 FM The Fan first reported Rutledge was en route to Pittsburgh this afternoon.
Rutledge, 24, was Washington’s first-round draftee back in 2019. A Texas junior college product, the 6’8″ righty has appeared among the Nats’ top 10 prospects at Baseball America entering each of the last four seasons. He’d been nagged by injury concerns early in his professional career but he has shown a promising raw arsenal.
As one might expect given his size, Rutledge has a mid-90s fastball and a mid-80s slider which BA suggests could be a plus offering. The outlet placed him seventh among Washington minor leaguers on their midseason update, writing that he has a chance to stick at the back of a major league rotation.
Rutledge has made 23 minor league starts this season, splitting the year almost evenly between the top two levels. He worked to a 3.16 ERA over 12 outings for Double-A Harrisburg before posting a 4.44 mark in 11 starts at Triple-A Rochester. Overall, he has allowed 3.71 earned runs per nine through 119 innings. His 21.3% strikeout rate and 11.1% walk percentage are both middling, but the results were solid enough for the Nats to give him an initial look.
Washington added Rutledge to the 40-man roster last winter to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft. They’ll need only to make an active roster transaction to accommodate his promotion tomorrow. He could take three or four starts down the stretch as he tries to put himself on the radar for a spot in next year’s starting staff.
Progress! …hopefully.
“… he has a chance to stick at the back of a major league rotation.”
Was hoping for a little more than that.
Incoming “How can they recall him if he hasn’t made his debut yet!?” comments.
How can they recall him if he hasn’t made his debut yet!?
I may be the lone ranger in asking this, but…how can they recall him if he hasn’t made his debut yet!?
If you don’t believe that a first round pick doesn’t get preferential treatment, here is the proof. It hurts the minor league developmental team when you treat players simply by draft status.
He’s been the best SP they’ve had at AA/AAA this year and is already on the 40. How is that preferential treatment?
They need arms and don’t have any, and after struggling his first five AAA appearances he has gone 3.64 in his last six over 30 IP. He is still far from strong but who else do you suggest they bring up to replace developing guys running on fumes?
While they certainly must try him as a starter, I think he is destined for the pen. Given his size and pitch offerings he could become a feared piece in a relief role.
Jackson Rutledge sounds like a law firm…
Or a country singer
Welcome to pro baseball. Most of the draft picks are just fillers for team in the minors. They don’t care how good you do they will promote the money picks unless a rare mistake happens. So flawed. If the front office knew what they were doing the product be much better
It’s amusing when commentors say front offices don’t know what they’re doing.
So the GM, whose job security is based in part on the talent on the field at the pro level, has no cares about how good a player does. He just blindly promotes the money picks. Contrary to your claim, Rizzo knows what he’s doing.
The only recall I get is on my transmission after it already went Kieboom on the interstate.