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Blake Rutherford

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Blake Rutherford
Rutherford in 2024
Toros de Tijuana – No. 10
Outfielder
Born: (1997-05-02) May 2, 1997 (age 27)
Simi Valley, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 4, 2023, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.171
Home runs0
Runs batted in2
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
U-18 Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2015 Osaka Team

Blake Rutherford (born May 2, 1997) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals. The New York Yankees selected him in the first round of the 2016 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Nationals.

Amateur career

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Rutherford attended the Chaminade College Preparatory School in West Hills, California.[1] As a freshman, Rutherford committed to play college baseball at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).[2][3] As a junior, he hit .435 with four home runs.[4][5] In August 2015, he played in the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field.[6] As a senior, he batted .577.[7]

Rutherford was considered one of the top prospects for the 2016 MLB draft.[8][9]

Professional career

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New York Yankees

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Rutherford was selected by the New York Yankees with the 18th overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft, and signed a contract with the team on June 29, 2016, with a signing bonus of $3,282,000.[10][11] Rutherford began his professional career with the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, and was promoted to the Pulaski Yankees of the Rookie-level Appalachian League after a few weeks.[12][13] He finished his first professional season batting .351 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 33 games between both clubs.[14] Rutherford began the 2017 season with the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League.

Chicago White Sox

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On July 18, 2017, the Yankees traded Rutherford, Tyler Clippard, Ian Clarkin, and Tito Polo to the Chicago White Sox for David Robertson, Todd Frazier, and Tommy Kahnle.[15] Rutherford then joined the Class A Kannapolis Intimidators. He finished 2017 with a combined .260 batting average with two home runs and 35 RBIs in 101 games between both teams.[16] In 2018, he played for the Winston-Salem Dash, slashing .293/.345/.436 with seven home runs, 78 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 115 games.[17] He spent 2019 with the Birmingham Barons, batting .265 with seven home runs and 49 RBIs over 118 games.[18] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs following the season.[19]

Rutherford was added to the White Sox 40–man roster following the 2019 season.[20] He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season.[21] Rutherford spent the 2021 season with the Charlotte Knights where he slashed .250/.286/.404 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs over 115 games.[22] On March 29, 2022, the White Sox designated Rutherford for assignment when they acquired Adam Haseley.[23] He cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A on April 1, 2022. Spending the year with Triple-A Charlotte, Rutherford played in 116 games, posting a slash of .271/.311/.428 with 13 home runs, 58 RBI, and 8 stolen bases. He elected free agency on November 10, 2022.

Washington Nationals

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On February 3, 2023, Rutherford signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization.[24] In 62 games split between the Double–A Harrisburg Senators and Triple–A Rochester Red Wings, he hit a cumulative .345/.395/.583 with 11 home runs, 43 RBI, and 7 stolen bases. On August 4, Rutherford was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[25] In 16 games for Washington, he went 6–for–35 (.171) with 2 RBI and one walk. Following the season on October 18, Rutherford was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Rochester. However, he subsequently rejected the assignment and elected free agency.[26]

Kansas City Monarchs

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On April 17, 2024, Rutherford signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[27] In 17 games, he batted .328/.380/.531 with 3 home runs and 20 RBI.

Toros de Tijuana

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On June 14, 2024, Rutherford's contract was purchased by the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.[28] In 24 games he hit .257/.337/.608 with 7 home runs and 13 RBIs.

Personal life

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Rutherford's older brother, Cole, was a prospect for the San Diego Padres.[29]

References

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  1. ^ "NHSI: Getting ALL-USA star Blake Rutherford to the plate more often works for Chaminade (Calif.) | | USA Today High School Sports". usatodayhss.com. March 24, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  2. ^ "USABaseball.com: News: Champion, Challenger: Kids keep Blake Rutherford from taking gifts lightly". web.usabaseball.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  3. ^ "Blake Rutherford on Area Code and what lies ahead | Student Sports Baseball". studentsports.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  4. ^ "Chaminade's Blake Rutherford will be the center of attention on the baseball field, with good reason - LA Times". Los Angeles Times. February 22, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  5. ^ "VAVEL Exclusive Interview With Three Highly Touted Players: Blake Rutherford, Jordan Butler And Brice Turang - VAVEL.com". vavel.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  6. ^ "Under Armour All-America Game Spotlight: Blake Rutherford - BaseballAmerica.com". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  7. ^ "Blake Rutherford drafted at No. 18 by Yankees". MLB.com.
  8. ^ "Blake Rutherford Shows Tools of a Top-Five Draft Pick | FanGraphs Baseball". fangraphs.com. March 31, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  9. ^ "2016 Top 100 Draft Prospects - BaseballAmerica.com". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  10. ^ "MLB Draft 2016: Yankees make Blake Rutherford top pick". June 10, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  11. ^ "Yankees give 1st-round pick Blake Rutherford a $3M signing bonus". New York Daily News. June 29, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  12. ^ "Minor league news and notes: Top pick Blake Rutherford on the move". Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  13. ^ "Rutherford records first career four-hit game". MiLB.com.
  14. ^ "Blake Rutherford Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
  15. ^ Van Schouwen, Daryl (July 18, 2017). "White Sox trade Robertson, Frazier, Kahnle to Yankees, call up Moncada". chicago.suntimes.com. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  16. ^ "Blake Rutherford Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  17. ^ "Blake Rutherford Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  18. ^ Norris, Josh (April 2, 2019). "Conner Greene, Blake Rutherford Among Standouts On Arizona Back Fields". www.baseballamerica.com.
  19. ^ "Arizona Fall League rosters revealed". MLB.com.
  20. ^ Daryl Van Schouwen (November 20, 2019). "Right-handers Zack Burdi, Dane Dunning among 7 added to White Sox 40-man roster". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  21. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  22. ^ "Ranking Every Trade Made by White Sox GM Rick Hahn". December 15, 2021.
  23. ^ "White Sox acquire outfielder Haseley from Phillies". March 29, 2022.
  24. ^ "Nationals' Blake Rutherford: Inks MiLB deal with Natsl". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  25. ^ "Nationals' Blake Rutherford: Selected to MLB roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  26. ^ "Blake Rutherford: Enters free agency". cbssports.com. October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  27. ^ "2024 Transactions". aabaseball.com. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  28. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 14 de junio de 2024". milb.com (in Spanish). Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  29. ^ Rahman, Jamil (January 5, 2018). "Former Cornell First Baseman Signs With San Diego Padres". cornellsun.com. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
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