Former Washington Nationals first-round pick Jackson Rutledge is taking his baseball career overseas.
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball announced this week that they have signed the 27-year-old right-hander, giving the former Nationals top prospect an opportunity to revive his career in Japan.
Rutledge Never Found His Footing in Washington
Washington selected Rutledge in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft, and for several years, he was viewed as one of the organization’s most promising young pitchers.
His development, however, was slowed by several setbacks.
There was no minor league season in 2020, while shoulder problems limited Rutledge to just 36 1/3 minor league innings in 2021. He also spent another month on the injured list in 2022 because of an undisclosed issue.
Although he remained mostly healthy afterward, the results never matched the expectations surrounding him.
Rutledge appeared in parts of four MLB seasons, recording a 6.29 ERA and 19% strikeout rate across 103 innings. His 7.3% walk rate in the majors was respectable, but control became a much bigger problem in the minors.
At Triple-A, Rutledge owns a career 13.4% walk rate and 5.55 ERA over 196 1/3 innings.
Japan Provides a Fresh Opportunity
Rutledge’s final appearance with Washington came earlier this season, when he recorded just 1 1/3 innings and surrendered seven runs.
The Nationals designated him for assignment following that outing, and the Philadelphia Phillies subsequently claimed him.
Rutledge never appeared in a major league game for Philadelphia. He pitched only 10 minor league innings, while also missing time because of an undisclosed injury.
Philadelphia eventually granted him his release late last month so he could pursue an opportunity overseas.
Now, Rutledge will attempt to restart his career with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
At just 27 years old, there is still time for the former first-round pick to find his footing. Japan will provide Rutledge with a completely new environment and an opportunity to prove that the pitcher Washington once viewed as a top prospect still has something left to offer.
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