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Thanks for the link. Nice to see some progress. The question that arises then is he able to repeat it consistently? Thats the issue with pitchers 6'9. The stuff is there. If he gets delivery consistent, I think he'll move fast from there.
federalbaseball @federalbaseball7h#Nats' 2019 1st Round pick Jackson Rutledge threw 12 pitches, 9 strikes in 2023 Grapefruit League debut vs. the #Mets. Rutledge, 23, threw 8 (67%) 4-seam fastballs, average velocity = 97 MPH. Retired the side in order...
this is promising:Quotefederalbaseball @federalbaseball7h#Nats' 2019 1st Round pick Jackson Rutledge threw 12 pitches, 9 strikes in 2023 Grapefruit League debut vs. the #Mets. Rutledge, 23, threw 8 (67%) 4-seam fastballs, average velocity = 97 MPH. Retired the side in order...
when they showed him in the AFL a couple of years ago, his stuff was absolutely filthy. It really is only a matter of health. People project the best pitchers drafted and developing in our system as relievers (Henry, Rutledge, Cavalli). This is the guy who would be untouchable as a reliever.
Lets keep him as a starter. He finally put together a full seaaon. I really want to see his progression after a full, healthy offseason.We're not in a playoff hunt where we NEED a reliever. Get him at least half a season in Double A and see what happens. Thats where he'll start really needing command of a second pitch and the ability to throw a decent third pitch.Theres a perfect world where Rutledge figures his stuff out in August and gets to pitch a few MLB innings in September. Then he gets go roll into the offseason with a legit chance of making the 2024 rotation
We have plenty of relievers in edwards, Harvey, Finnegan, Arano, etc with guys like Ferrer, brcyzcky, and Cronin knocking on the door. No need to convert starters
“It's been good,” Rutledge said. “Just talking to guys, learning some stuff and just being a part of things has been good. I like to think I'm in a good spot as far as how I'm pitching and I'd just like to keep that going and stay healthy.”Staying healthy has been a key for him. After missing all of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and missing parts of the last two seasons with various injuries, the 2019 first-round pick hit his stride in the second half of last season at Single-A Fredericksburg.As for the growth on the mound, he’s been able to keep that going while facing major league hitters.Rutledge pitched two innings of a sim game on one of the back fields at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Friday. He faced big league hitters Lane Thomas, Keibert Ruiz, Dominic Smith, Corey Dickerson and Matt Adams, while manager Davey Martinez, pitching coach Jim Hickey and other members of the major league coaching staff watched.The 23-year-old did well for himself for a guy who hasn’t pitched above low Single-A ball going against guys with extended major league experience.“It was awesome. He's made unbelievable strides. He really has,” Martinez said of Rutledge’s performance in the sim game. “He understands now that the number one thing is attacking the strike zone. And he's been really focused on that and trying to get ahead of hitters. He's worked on his breaking ball and it's a lot better. He's being able to throw strikes with it. And his changeup is actually really, really developing. He threw three plus-pitches. He had a really good year last year, so hopefully, we'll get him to build off of that and start off strong.”
“He's coming up, he's gonna pitch here soon,” Martinez said. “But we've been doing a whole lot of work with him developing his changeup a little bit, getting to land his curveball better early in counts. He's been doing really well. He's one guy that, from last year when I saw him, I know he had a pretty good year, to now this year, he's matured a lot. I think he understands who he can be, which is awesome.”
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Back in mid-February, before his first live batting practice session of spring training, Jackson Rutledge paced around the dugout and muttered to himself. Then he sat on the metal bench, removed his hat and bowed his head, eyes closed. Then he paced again. Then he asked for the time, grinning lightly when told it was 11:11 a.m., maybe making a silent wish to strike everyone out. Then he plugged his catcher, Brady Lindsly, for info ahead of a simulated inning that would unfold with no umpire, scoreboard or record keeping, unless you count the data Rutledge would pore over to see how his new cutter played off his fastball and a slider that, in his words, really moves more like a curve.“Hey, hey,” Rutledge whispered to get Lindsly’s attention. “You see what Hassell did? I saw the other guys hit, but I don’t know much about Hassell.”“Likes to go the other way,” Lindsly answered. “Left-center is his power alley.”“Got it, okay,” Rutledge said, staring at the ground. “Four minutes left. Guess it’s time for the anthem.”If this sounds like a chaotic lead-up to facing teammates on a backfield, that’s how it felt in the moment. And no, there was no anthem before Rutledge took the mound against James Wood, T.J. White, Brady House, Elijah Green and Robert Hassell III. But after trying to fit in last season — after everyone told him he belonged, after they told him to relax — Rutledge realized he just has to be himself.Relaxed, to the 23-year-old Rutledge, is appearing extremely unrelaxed. Belonging, in his eyes, means treating live batting practice as if it were his major league debut.
Stay healthy, get to Harrisburg.
Dont know if anyone else is using the Ballys app to watch, but Rutledge does not look overmatched in Double A tonight.4 IP, 6 Ks, 3 walks, 1 hit, 1 ER
finished at 4⅔ IP, 3H, 3R, 2ER, 4BB, 7K, WP
second start tonight - 5 IP, 4H, 2ER, 3BB, 4Ks, and a
get the darn walk rate down, kid.
