Blake Rutherford

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Blake Rutherford
Blake Rutherford and Luis Gonzalez (5378822) (cropped).jpg
Rutherford (left) and Luis Gonzalez with the Birmingham Barons in 2019
Chicago White Sox – No. 76
Outfielder
Born: (1997-05-02) May 2, 1997 (age 24)
Simi Valley, California
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
U-18 Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2015 Osaka Team

Blake Rutherford (born May 2, 1997) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Chicago White Sox organization.

Amateur career[]

Rutherford attended the Chaminade College Preparatory School in West Hills, California.[1] As a freshman, Rutherford committed to play college baseball at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).[2][3] As a junior, he hit .435 with four home runs.[4][5] In August 2015, he played in the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field.[6] As a senior, he batted .577.[7]

Rutherford was considered one of the top prospects for the 2016 MLB draft.[8][9]

Professional career[]

New York Yankees[]

Rutherford was selected by the New York Yankees with the 18th overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft, and signed a contract with the team on June 29, 2016, with a signing bonus of $3,282,000.[10][11] Rutherford began his professional career with the Gulf Coast Yankees of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, and was promoted to the Pulaski Yankees of the Rookie-level Appalachian League after a few weeks.[12][13] He finished his first professional season batting .351 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 33 games between both clubs.[14] Rutherford began the 2017 season with the Charleston RiverDogs of the Class A South Atlantic League.

Chicago White Sox[]

On July 18, 2017, the Yankees traded Rutherford, Tyler Clippard, Ian Clarkin, and Tito Polo to the Chicago White Sox for David Robertson, Todd Frazier, and Tommy Kahnle.[15] Rutherford then joined the Class A Kannapolis Intimidators. He finished 2017 with a combined .260 batting average with two home runs and 35 RBIs in 101 games between both teams.[16] In 2018, he played for the Winston-Salem Dash, slashing .293/.345/.436 with seven home runs, 78 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 115 games.[17] He spent 2019 with the Birmingham Barons, batting .265 with seven home runs and 49 RBIs over 118 games.[18] He was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs following the season.[19]

Rutherford was added to the White Sox 40–man roster following the 2019 season.[20] He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season.[21] Rutherford spent the 2021 season with the Charlotte Knights where he slashed .250/.286/.404 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs over 115 games.[22]

Personal life[]

Rutherford's older brother, Cole, was a prospect for the San Diego Padres.[23]

References[]

  1. ^ "NHSI: Getting ALL-USA star Blake Rutherford to the plate more often works for Chaminade (Calif.) | | USA Today High School Sports". usatodayhss.com. March 24, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  2. ^ "USABaseball.com: News: Champion, Challenger: Kids keep Blake Rutherford from taking gifts lightly". web.usabaseball.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  3. ^ "Blake Rutherford on Area Code and what lies ahead | Student Sports Baseball". studentsports.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  4. ^ "Chaminade's Blake Rutherford will be the center of attention on the baseball field, with good reason - LA Times". Los Angeles Times. February 22, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  5. ^ "VAVEL Exclusive Interview With Three Highly Touted Players: Blake Rutherford, Jordan Butler And Brice Turang - VAVEL.com". vavel.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  6. ^ "Under Armour All-America Game Spotlight: Blake Rutherford - BaseballAmerica.com". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  7. ^ "Blake Rutherford drafted at No. 18 by Yankees". MLB.com.
  8. ^ "Blake Rutherford Shows Tools of a Top-Five Draft Pick | FanGraphs Baseball". fangraphs.com. March 31, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  9. ^ "2016 Top 100 Draft Prospects - BaseballAmerica.com". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  10. ^ "MLB Draft 2016: Yankees make Blake Rutherford top pick". June 10, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  11. ^ "Yankees give 1st-round pick Blake Rutherford a $3M signing bonus". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  12. ^ "Minor league news and notes: Top pick Blake Rutherford on the move". Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  13. ^ "Rutherford records first career four-hit game". MiLB.com.
  14. ^ "Blake Rutherford Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com.
  15. ^ Van Schouwen, Daryl (July 18, 2017). "White Sox trade Robertson, Frazier, Kahnle to Yankees, call up Moncada". chicago.suntimes.com. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  16. ^ "Blake Rutherford Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  17. ^ "Blake Rutherford Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Basebal". MiLB.com. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  18. ^ Norris, Josh. "Conner Greene, Blake Rutherford Among Standouts On Arizona Back Fields". www.baseballamerica.com.
  19. ^ "Arizona Fall League rosters revealed". MLB.com.
  20. ^ Daryl Van Schouwen (November 20, 2019). "Right-handers Zack Burdi, Dane Dunning among 7 added to White Sox 40-man roster". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  21. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
  22. ^ "Ranking Every Trade Made by White Sox GM Rick Hahn". December 15, 2021.
  23. ^ Rahman, Jamil (January 5, 2018). "Former Cornell First Baseman Signs With San Diego Padres". cornellsun.com. Retrieved January 5, 2018.

External links[]

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