Atlanta Braves Newcomer: Rule 5 Selection Evan Rutckyj
Sep 16, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Jason Grilli is honored as the Braves nominee for the 2015 Roberto Clemente Award before their game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
New Atlanta Braves Lefty Evan Rutckyj
Who Is He?
Evan Rutckyj is a native of Ontario, Canada. He was selected in the 16th round out of high school in 2010 by the New York Yankees. They sent him to the Gulf Coast League, but he threw only one scoreless inning that season.
In 2011, the Yankees returned him to the GCL. He pitched in 12 games, starting 8 of them. He accumulated 45 1/3 innings with a 4.76 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 24/37 BB/K ratio.
The Yankees moved him to the New York-Penn League in 2012 to their Staten Island squad to start the season. After 15 appearances, 14 of them starts, Rutckyj was moved up to Charleston of the South Atlantic League, where he made 6 starts. His final numbers in 2012 combined were 21 games pitched, 20 of them starts, 101 1/3 innings, 3.91 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, and 49/86 BB/K.
In 2013, the Yankees had Rutckyj spend the entire season at Charleston, and the results were less than impressive, as he pitched in 25 games, 19 of them starts, racking up 118 innings with a 5.03 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, and 60/102 BB/K ratio.
The Yankees moved Rutckyj to the bullpen in 2014, starting him in Charleston, but he did move up to high-A Tampa in the Florida State League midway through the season. His season totals between the levels were 34 appearances, 49 2/3 innings, 3.81 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and 37/58 BB/K ratio.
Next: Rutckyj's scouting report
In 2015, something clicked with Rutckyj, and he made big strides in his performance. He started in high-A Tampa and finished his season with AA Trenton in the Eastern League. In total, he made 36 appearances, throwing 61 2/3 innings with a 2.63 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 21/82 BB/K. His splits were essentially equal to both sides of the plate, but that was only because lefties had an incredible .424 BABIP against him in order to post their .656 OPS allowed, whereas RH had a .685 OPS. Right handed hitters struck out roughly 28% of the time against Rutckyj while lefties struck out just over 40%. The Braves selected Rutckyj with the third pick in the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings this December.