“He’s a big angle player, a 6-foot-7, He’s a player and really goes downhill against hitters,” he told reporters. The aging right-hander made his MLB debut this past September.
“He has a very deceptive, short-armed way. He kind of spit the ball out of his jersey. His fastball is in the mid-to-high 90s, good breaking ball, versatile We’re looking forward to seeing him do well because he has a breaking ball and a changeup that has really come into play over the past year or so, making his debut in the wet and seeing a few appearances in the big leagues before the season is over. He’s going to start a game, then come to spring training and compete for one of the five starting spots available in 2024.”
Rutledge ended up starting four games, pitching 20 innings, giving up 24 hits, 15 runs (6.75 ERA, 5.86 FIP), six walks, and 12 strikeouts, and opposing batters did well. I had a combined .304/.364/.519 line against him.
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“I wouldn’t say he was fired,” Rizzo said ahead of Rutledge’s first major league appearance. A little bit longer than someone who comes from an SEC program or a program like that, and then he had a few injuries and struggled with that, but the last two years he’s been solid, getting the ball every five days. What we’re trying to accomplish here with these pitchers at the major league level and the minor league level — because a lot of them are injured — is to finish a full season happy, healthy, and on the right track. Thing.I think so [Rutledge] He progressed from A ball to Double A and Triple A, showing that he had earned the right to make his major league debut. ”
Rutledge started 23 games and appeared in 119 IP between Double-A and Triple-A for the Nationals this year, totaling a 3.71 ERA, 55 walks (4.16/9 BB), and 106 strikeouts (8.02K). /9), with a batting average of 3.71. 227 BAA, and 1.27 WHIP, (He started 12 games at AA Harrisburg and had a 3.16 ERA, and started 11 games at AAA Rochester with a 4.44 ERA.), he got the opportunity to pitch in the majors at the end of the season.
“Regardless of how this year turns out,” Rizzo said after Rutledge’s first of four starts in the majors. It’s about that young rotation and the young players we have in the minor leagues.
“We’re excited about it [Josiah] gray, [MacKenzie] Goa, [Jake] In the big leagues, you have Irvin, and Rutledge and Cole Henry, and [Jake] with Mr. Bennett [Cade] Cavalli and a group of players who will all be in the big leagues in the near future. ”
When manager Davey Martinez was asked why he hired Rutledge, he said, “He’s been making adjustments there,” he said, “especially just pulling himself together when things get a little weird.” Ta.
“I’m happy with his progress and growth,” Rizzo added. “I think he’s earned the opportunity to pitch in the big leagues. It’ll be fun to see him pitch in the big leagues a few times before this season is over.”
Rutledge struggled in his debut, battling nerves, but was excited and tired after making his first start in the majors.
“It’s definitely been a whirlwind,” Rutledge said.
“I found out yesterday morning and drove all the way here in the rain. Being able to tell my family that was really amazing and being able to share that with them is something I will never forget.” Probably.
“Obviously tonight didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but I’m a big leaguer and no one can take that away from me. I’ll be better next time and that’s it for today.”
Rutledge performed better in his next two starts for the Nationals (In 2011, he had a 2.38 ERA, 5.29 FIP, and a batting average of .231/.279/.436. 1⁄3 IP), before struggling in the final outing of the year.
“When he throws strikes,” Martinez said at the end of the season, evaluating Rutledge’s performance in the majors. “He can compete and that’s the biggest thing. In fact, that’s what he told me when I took him out of the game. ‘You just have to have faith and throw the ball to the plate,'” he said. Ta. And I said, “Hey, if you can do that, you can pitch here and help us for a long time.” Yours is good, but you need to attack the strike zone. It was impressive to see him get a big out in the final inning and end the game. So we had to build from there. ”
Rutledge (In his final start against the National League East champions, he allowed two walks, five hits, and five runs. atlanta braves), told reporters after the trip that he really enjoyed testing himself against an offense like the Braves’ offense.
“It tells me I belong here,” he said, Quoted by Mark Zuckerman of MASN. “Even against one of the best batting lineups in baseball, I can do it. I can be successful. That gives me confidence moving forward.”
