Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | BAL | C | 1 | 60 |
Grades Update: Dec 2020
| OFP | Role | Hit | Power | Field | Arm | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 70 | 60 | 60 | 55 | 60 | 40 |
Dec 2020 Report
Evaluator: Jake Boes
Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220 lbs
Hits/Throws: S/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 1
RuleV: 2022
Physical Description: Tall, strong, sturdy frame; more athletic than average for a catcher. Broad, sloping shoulders with beefy arms; perhaps a bit of baby fat left in the torso but the jersey fits loose. Thick, muscular thighs and legs requisite for being behind the plate. The frame is mostly developed; frame reminds me of Brian McCann with more athleticism; may need maintenance in the future but ability and work ethic should keep him fit. Quiet confidence; lead by example type.
Hit: True switch-hitter with comfort from both sides; compact stance; open with the feet just outside of shoulder-width; hands sit at the letters from the left side but near the helmet when hitting righty. Upper half stays fairly upright but deep crouch at the knee to form a wide base. Generates plus bat speed thanks to powerful legs and quick hands through the zone; uses the entire field; strength and approach do not make sell-out swings necessary to drive the ball; impressive plate coverage; manipulates the barrel well. Controls at-bats; does not stray from approach. Impressive strike zone awareness. Grade: 60
Power: Head-turning raw power that translates in-game due to his ability to hit to all fields with authority; over-the-fence power is most apparent to the pull field but will hit a fair share of gappers and home runs to the big parts of the ballpark. Overall may be slightly better from the left side, but plus power nevertheless. Grade: 60
Field: Plus defender; first-rate receiving skills behind the plate; pitchers love throwing to him. Reads his battery mate well; quiet glove with the ability to frame. Shows effort in the little things; pounces out of the crouch for fly balls in foul ground and hustles to back up infield throws. Grade: 60
Arm: Above-average arm; good strength and mechanics throwing the ball. Pop times in the 2.03-2.05 range; accuracy is less than desirable at times going off-line or bouncing throws. Shows enough athleticism and want to possibly correct with continued pro instruction. Grade: 55
Run: Below-average runner; shows instincts on the bases with good effort, but running ability will never be a weapon. Not lazy on the bases but not likely to leg out routine ground balls. Grade: 40
Overall: Rutschman has all the tools to negate any shortcomings; his switch-hitting ability takes away his platoon risk, his effortless power limits his strikeout risk, and his innate defensive abilities figure to allow him to stay behind the plate - a position traditionally tough to build a long career on. With his type of athleticism, however, even an eventual first base role would not hinder his profile or his ability to reach all-star games in the major leagues. If there is nit-picking to be made, it's with the arm and particularly the accuracy. Still, it figures to play above-average at the next level and his defensive abilities bring his floor about as high as possible for a catching prospect.
OFP: 60
Role: 70 - Impact Player, Perennial All-Star
Risk: Moderate
