Lex Rutledge
| IP | 129 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 2.581 |
| WHIP | 1.147 |
| BB/9 | 3.977 |
| SO/9 | 8.023 |
- Full name Felix Emery Rutledge
- Born 06/28/1991 in Tupelo, MS
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Samford
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Drafted in the 6th round (192nd overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2012 (signed for $196,200).
View Draft Report
Rutledge ranked just behind Mississippi State's Chris Stratton among Mississippi high school pitchers in 2009, and he spurned the Brewers as a 26th-round draft pick to attend Samford. The Bulldogs made him a closer and he thrived in that role, going 5-1, 1.71 with 11 saves in 2010 and striking out 65 in 47 innings. Rutledge struggled with command when he moved into the weekend rotation in 2011 and moved back into the bullpen in 2012. Walks remained a problem, though, and he has 84 in 142 career innings with a 6.81 ERA this spring. Rutledge has thrown hard in two summers in the Cape Cod League, hitting 97-98 mph in short spurts. His fastball has resided more in the 91-93 mph range this spring but touched 95-96. If he throws strike with it, he can put hitters away with one of the draft's better curveballs, a power pitch in the 79-82 mph range with downer action. It's a swing-and-miss pitch that at times gets slurvy. He hasn't shown strong stuff when used on back-to-back days. He could go as high as the second round, but more likely will last into the fourth or fifth.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Rutledge spurned the Brewers to attend Samford when he was a 26th-round selection as a Mississippi prep product. He struggled with his command as a college starter, but thrived in the closer role as a freshman and junior, and he showed upper-90s velocity in two summers in the Cape Cod League. Impressed by his lefty arm strength, the Orioles snagged him in the sixth round in June and signed him for $196,200. Rutledge's velocity wavers, though he sat at 90-93 mph with cutting action as a starter in his pro debut. He has a straight overhand curveball that can be a plus pitch at times, and he's working to develop a changeup. Rutledge throws from an extreme overhand arm slot, which leads to command and control difficulties, and he might attain better feel by lowering it. He has an unorthodox delivery that Baltimore has worked to refine. If he can improve his changeup, delivery and overall feel for pitching, Rutledge could reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter. The Orioles will develop him in that role, though he might be best suited for the back of a bullpen. He'll make the jump to low Class A for his first full pro season.
Draft Prospects
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Rutledge ranked just behind Mississippi State's Chris Stratton among Mississippi high school pitchers in 2009, and he spurned the Brewers as a 26th-round draft pick to attend Samford. The Bulldogs made him a closer and he thrived in that role, going 5-1, 1.71 with 11 saves in 2010 and striking out 65 in 47 innings. Rutledge struggled with command when he moved into the weekend rotation in 2011 and moved back into the bullpen in 2012. Walks remained a problem, though, and he has 84 in 142 career innings with a 6.81 ERA this spring. Rutledge has thrown hard in two summers in the Cape Cod League, hitting 97-98 mph in short spurts. His fastball has resided more in the 91-93 mph range this spring but touched 95-96. If he throws strike with it, he can put hitters away with one of the draft's better curveballs, a power pitch in the 79-82 mph range with downer action. It's a swing-and-miss pitch that at times gets slurvy. He hasn't shown strong stuff when used on back-to-back days. He could go as high as the second round, but more likely will last into the fourth or fifth.
