See today's Post for reasons to be optimistic about Rutledge:
- Sore shoulder sent him to Florida, the blister kept him from pitching much at Fredericksburg
- He pitched regularly in AFL. No breakdowns
- Mark Sciabala says he has brought back his sinker to go with his improved change-up, and his good fastball and slider.
Rutledge does not look like a Kieboom.
Those are reasons to be optimistic, but I'd still agree with UMDNats.
Rutledge will be 23 when next season opens and he's done nothing productive above low-A. Some of that is COVID, some injuries, but it's still factual. Given his situation, there's a good chance he makes up some time and rebounds, but a 23-year-old starter with a shoulder injury in his past, no good numbers above low-A, and pure projection on the mound simply isn't a top prospect. He's a promising lottery ticket, but not a meaningful trade piece.
