Nationals Select RHP Jackson Rutledge with 17th Pick in First Round

June 3, 2019

The Washington Nationals selected right-handed pitcher Jackson Rutledge with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the MLB Draft.

Rutledge stands at 6-foot-8 from San Jacinto (Texas) Junior College. Rutledge’s fastball velocity ranges from 94-97 mph.

MLB Pipeline calls Rutledge the “best junior college prospect since Bryce Harper,” who the Nationals selected first overall in 2010.

Welcome to DC, Jackson Rutledge!#MLBDraft // #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/5GVIOjA16g
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 4, 2019

He was ranked 14th on Baseball America’s top 500 draft prospects.

With the No. 17 overall pick in the 2019 #MLBDraft, the Nationals select Jackson Rutledge, a RHP from San Jacinto (Texas) JC.

Rutledge was No. 14 on the BA 500. Read his scouting report right here: https://t.co/mb7Nl0HvJc
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) June 4, 2019

Nats director of scouting operations Kris Kline told me this week the Nats would go best-player-available, but covet college arms above all else. Rutledge has a power arm with a nasty breaking ball. https://t.co/8iNjXYeL9J
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) June 4, 2019

Jackson Rutledge falls into all the categories #Nats scouts covet: big FB, tall frame for difficult angle, wipeout slider, only 20 years old and most importantly, a pitcher. #Nats built their system on pitchers and catchers and always go into draft with mindset.
— Byron Kerr (@ByronKerr) June 4, 2019

Rutledge becomes the 13th JUCO pitcher to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft.

The @Nationals made RHP Jackson Rutledge the 13th junior college pitcher ever to be drafted in the first round. pic.twitter.com/fddYIGC0Ag— Matt Eddy (@MattEddyBA) June 4, 2019