Jackson Rutledge

Jackson Christian Rutledge

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 8", Weight 243 lb.
• School University of Arkansas, San Jacinto College
• High School Rockwood Summit High School
• Debut September 13, 2023

• Born April 1, 1999 in Springdale, AR USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Jackson Rutledge was the 17th player selected in the 2019 amateur draft, by the Washington Nationals, but just the third pitcher as that year's draft was dominated by position players. At 6'8", he was the tallest player taken in the first round, after a somewhat unusual college career for a first rounder: coming out of a high school in the St. Louis, MO area, he was originally recruited by a major program - the University of Arkansas - but saw only limited action in his freshman year in 2018 and also suffered a hip injury. He decided to transfer to San Jacinto College, a junior college, in order to raise his profile. It worked as he pitched lights out (an 0.87 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings) and it led to his high selection in the draft that followed the college season.

In his first year in the pros in 2019, he appeared with three different teams in the Nationals system: the GCL Nationals, Auburn Doubledays and Hagerstown Suns, ending up in the low-A South Atlantic League. His combined record was 2-0, 3.13 in 10 starts, with 31 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings. Like many pitchers coming out of the first round, the Nationals decided to limit his innings that first year. He then spent 2020 at the team's alternate training site with the minor leagues shut down by the Coronavirus pandemic and returned to action in 2021 with the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High-A East. He once again put on three different uniforms that season, although that included a rehabilitation assignment in the Florida Complex League in mid-July in between assignments in Wilmington and with the Fredericksburg Nationals of the Low-A East. He was clearly not at full strength with the Blue Hens, being bothered by blisters and shoulder pain, and he gave up 16 runs on 17 hits and 9 walks in 10 2/3 innings. He did a bit better with Fredericksburg, with 20 hits and 9 walks in 22 innings, along with 26 strikeouts, even if his ERA was 5.32. Overall, the numbers were 1-6, 7.68. He was then sent to the Arizona Fall League after the season, but given his limited pro experience and the fact he was facing the cream of crop among other organizations' prospects, he was hit hard again, with a 6.98 ERA and another very high hit rate in 19 1/3 innings. His stuff was still rated by scouts as being of major league quality, though, but he really needed at that point to get some professional innings under his belt.

In 2022, he spent a full season with Fredericksburg, going 8-6, 4.90 in 20 starts and logging 97 1/3 innings. His 8 wibs were tied for first among all pitchers in the Nationals organization. He then split 2023 between AA and AAA, going 6-1, 3.16 with the Harrisburg Senators of the Eastern League, and 2-3, 4.44 with the Rochester Red Wings in the International League. His overall minor league numbers were 8-4, 3.71, with 106 strikeouts in 119 innings. He made his major league debut on September 13th, starting for the Nationals against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but things could have gone better as he gave up 7 runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings and was charged with a 7-6 loss.

Related Sites

• Jackson Rutledge on mlb.com
• BR Minors page