Jackson Rutledge, the 20-year-old right-hander the Nationals took at No. 17 in Monday night’s draft, sees himself as a starter in Major League Baseball — a guy who can come in and throw six innings or more as part of a regular rotation.
But if the Nationals, saddled this season with the league’s worst bullpen, want to use him as a reliever, the 6-foot-8 fastballer says he’s ready.
“I certainly have a little bit of experience coming out of the pen,” Rutledge told The Washington Times. “I closed a few games when I was at Arkansas last year. I think it would be a quick adjustment going from starting to being in the bullpen, but I think I could go out and get hitters out.”
After transferring out of Arkansas, Rutledge had a 0.87 ERA with 134 strikeouts in 13 starts for San Jacinto, a junior college in Texas. He had committed to play at Kentucky next year.
Asked to describe himself on the mound, Rutledge mentions a handful of major leaguers who have influenced his game.
“I think I take bits and pieces from all over the place … a little bit of Matt Harvey (Los Angels Angels) back in his prime, in that good slider, good fastball combination,” he said. “And a little bit of Blake Treinen (Oakland Athletics) in the way he moves, and his sinker is unbelievable, although mine’s not quite there yet.”
He also likes the way the Cardinals’ Adam Wainwright handles himself on the mound, keeping emotions in check and staying composed.
“Being aggressive in body language is just not me, that’s not the person I am,” Rutledge said. “I’m more of a guy that’s going to be more relaxed, and just kind of staying flat. Not getting too down on myself and just kind of being the same person no matter what happens.”
He doesn’t have a deal yet with the Nationals, but as the No. 17 pick, he would be slotted to make about $3.6 million.
Rutledge will have a decision to make, but his goal is to be a Major League Baseball starter and win a World Series.
“I have, I think, the pitcher repertoire to get hitters out the second or third time through the lineup and also I have the routines to get me prepared for a start there and also the consistency with velocity throughout the game,” he said. “I can hold my velocity up, up to 100-120 pitches.”
Along the way, the St. Louis native wants to the kind of player young kids and fans can look up to.
“One of the most important things is that I can be sort of a role model to these younger kids, because I can remember looking back and watching the Cardinals play in St. Louis and wanting to be like them,” he said. “There’s so many kids that will hopefully look the same way to me and I think I can make an impact on their lives and help people in general.”
Rutledge said he’s looking forward to his first-ever trip to Washington to meet with the club and talk about the next step.
“I am ready for wherever I go,” he said. “I kind of want to make this stay at the minor leagues as quick as possible and try and get myself up in the major leagues and help the team out as soon as I can. So, I’m ready to get after it, ready to get better, and ready to get to work.”
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