The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Jackson Rutledge from Triple-A Rochester and optioned right-handed pitcher Mason Thompson to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Rutledge, 24, went 8-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 23 starts between Triple-A Rochester and Double-A Harrisburg in 2023. He ranked among Nationals Minor Leaguers in opponents’ average (2nd, .227), wins (T3rd, 8), ERA (3rd, 3.71), strikeouts (4th, 106) and walks and hits per innings pitched (4th, 1.27). He is rated as the No. 7 prospect in Washington’s Minor League system, according to Baseball America.
With his start tonight, Rutledge will become the 26th pitcher drafted/signed and developed by the Washington Nationals to start a game for the organization (2005-pres.).
Rutledge opened his fourth professional season with Double-A Harrisburg where he went 6-1 with a 3.16 ERA in 12 starts. He struck out 62 batters while posting a .209 opponents’ batting average. He was promoted to Triple-A Rochester on June 27 and went 2-3 with a 4.44 ERA in 11 starts for the Red Wings. In his last start on Sept. 1 vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (NYY), Rutledge tossed 5.0 innings of two-hit, shutout ball with seven strikeouts.
Washington’s first-round pick (No. 17) in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of San Jacinto (TX) College, Rutledge has been cited by Baseball America as having the “Best Fastball” (2021, 2020) and “Best Slider” (2021) in Washington’s system throughout his professional career. He is 19-16 with a 4.53 ERA in 66 career Minor League games.
Thompson, 25, went 4-4 with a 5.50 ERA in 51 games out of Washington’s bullpen.
