# Josh Rutledge

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**Joshua Alan Rutledge** (born April 21, 1989) is an American former professional [baseball](/source/Baseball) [infielder](/source/Infielder). He played in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) (MLB) for the [Colorado Rockies](/source/Colorado_Rockies) and [Boston Red Sox](/source/Boston_Red_Sox) between 2012 and 2017.

## Amateur career

Rutledge attended [Cullman High School](/source/Cullman_High_School) in north-central Alabama, where he was a four-year starter on the baseball team. In 2006, he had a [batting average](/source/Batting_average_(baseball)) of .436 with five [home runs](/source/Home_run) and 33 [runs batted in](/source/Run_batted_in) (RBIs). Cullman was the runner-up in the Class 5A state championship. In 2007, his senior season, Rutledge hit .454 with 12 home runs and 69 RBI and helped his team win the state championship. *[The Birmingham News](/source/The_Birmingham_News)* and the Alabama Sports Writers Association named him the Class 5A Player of the Year.[1]

Rutledge enrolled at the [University of Alabama](/source/University_of_Alabama) and played [shortstop](/source/Shortstop) for the [Alabama Crimson Tide baseball](/source/Alabama_Crimson_Tide_baseball) team. In 2008, as a freshman, he started 61 games and led the team in batting average (.369), [hits](/source/Hit_(baseball)) (99), [runs scored](/source/Run_(baseball)) (62), and [stolen bases](/source/Stolen_base) (16). Rutledge became the second freshman to ever lead the team in hitting.[1] From March 26 to May 10, he had a 28-game [hitting streak](/source/Hitting_streak), the third-longest in school history. In 30 [SEC](/source/Southeastern_Conference) games, He batted .406, and his 56 hits led the league. The following season, Rutledge batted .305 with five home runs and 44 RBIs. He was named to the All-SEC first team.[1]

In 2008 and 2009, Rutledge played [collegiate summer baseball](/source/Collegiate_summer_baseball) in the [Cape Cod Baseball League](/source/Cape_Cod_Baseball_League) for the [Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox](/source/Yarmouth-Dennis_Red_Sox).[2]

## Professional career

### Colorado Rockies

The [Colorado Rockies](/source/Colorado_Rockies) selected Rutledge in the third round of the [2010 Major League Baseball draft](/source/2010_Major_League_Baseball_draft) and he signed with the team on June 25.[3] That season, he played 11 games for the [Northwest League](/source/Northwest_League)'s [Tri-City Dust Devils](/source/Tri-City_Dust_Devils). The following season, he played for the [Modesto Nuts](/source/Modesto_Nuts) of the [California League](/source/California_League). Rutledge batted .348 with 9 home runs and 71 RBI and was named the league's player of the week twice.[4][5] Rutledge was then moved up to the [Tulsa Drillers](/source/Tulsa_Drillers) of the Double–A [Texas League](/source/Texas_League) in 2012. He hit .308 with 13 home runs and 35 RBI.[4]

Rutledge was called up to the major league Rockies in 2012 to play shortstop while [Troy Tulowitzki](/source/Troy_Tulowitzki) was injured. He made his MLB debut on July 13. Over his first 145 [at bats](/source/At_bat), Rutledge hit .345 with 24 [extra base hits](/source/Extra_base_hit). Towards the end of the season, he injured his quadriceps and batted .197 in September. Rutledge finished his first major league season with a .274 batting average, 8 home runs, and 37 RBI.[3][6][7] A natural shortstop, Rutledge began playing other infield positions in 2014.[8]

### Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

On December 11, 2014, the Rockies traded Rutledge to the [Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim](/source/Los_Angeles_Angels_of_Anaheim) in exchange for [Jairo Díaz](/source/Jairo_D%C3%ADaz).[9] He spent half of the season in Triple-A with the Salt Lake City Bees, hitting .286 with 6 home runs and 34 RBI in 81 games before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in July 2015.

### Boston Red Sox

On July 27, 2015, the Angels traded Rutledge to the [Boston Red Sox](/source/Boston_Red_Sox) in exchange for [Shane Victorino](/source/Shane_Victorino) and $3.8 million in cash considerations.[10] He was [designated for assignment](/source/Designated_for_assignment) on November 30.[11] The Red Sox selected Rutledge's contract from Triple-A Pawtucket on April 24, 2016, following an injury to [Pablo Sandoval](/source/Pablo_Sandoval).[12] Rutledge injured his knee in June and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.[13] On July 14, the team transferred Rutledge to the 60-day disabled list.[14] On November 4, Rutledge elected free agency after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A.[15]

On November 23, 2016, Rutledge signed a minor league contract with the [Colorado Rockies](/source/Colorado_Rockies).[16] On December 8, the Red Sox selected him from the Rockies with the 26th pick of the [Rule 5 draft](/source/Rule_5_draft).[17] Rutledge played in 37 games for Boston, batting .224/.297/.262 with no home runs and nine RBI. On August 30, 2017, he underwent season–ending [arthroscopic](/source/Arthroscopy) surgery on his left hip.[18] On November 2, Rutledge was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A [Pawtucket Red Sox](/source/Pawtucket_Red_Sox).[19]

### San Francisco Giants

On December 21, 2017, Rutledge signed a minor league contract with the [San Francisco Giants](/source/San_Francisco_Giants).[20] In 18 games for the Triple–A [Sacramento River Cats](/source/Sacramento_River_Cats), he batted .077/.111/.077 with no home runs or RBI. Rutledge was released by the Giants organization on June 27, 2018.[21]

Rutledge retired following the conclusion of the 2018 season.

## Personal life

Josh was born to Tony and Cheryl Rutledge in [Cullman, Alabama](/source/Cullman,_Alabama), on April 21, 1989. In 2013, he married [Laura McKeeman](/source/Laura_Rutledge) (who took Rutledge's name upon marriage), a reporter and host for [ESPN](/source/ESPN) and the [SEC Network](/source/SEC_Network). On October 2, 2019, his wife gave birth to a daughter. On May 25, 2023, they had their second child and first son, Jack.

## See also

- [Rule 5 draft results](/source/Rule_5_draft_results)

## References

1. ["Player Bio: Josh Rutledge"](http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/rutledge_josh00.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130308085333/http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/rutledge_josh00.html) March 8, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. rolltide.com. Retrieved March 28, 2013.

1. ["Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League"](http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.

1. ["Josh Rutledge Statistics and History"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rutlejo01.shtml). baseball-reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2013.

1. ["Josh Rutledge Minor League Statistics & History"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=rutled001jos). baseball-reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2013.

1. ["Josh Rutledge"](http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=592710#gameType='S'&sectionType=career&statType=1&season=2013&level='ALL') [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130328034415/http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=592710#gameType='S'&sectionType=career&statType=1&season=2013&level='ALL') March 28, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. colorado.rockies.mlb.com. Retrieved March 28, 2013.

1. Renck, Troy E. ["Offseason work has Rockies' Josh Rutledge ready to challenge for starting job"](http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_22458762/offseason-work-has-josh-rutledge-ready-challenge-starting). denverpost.com. January 27, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.

1. ["Josh Rutledge"](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32144/josh-rutledge). espn.go.com. Retrieved March 28, 2013.

1. Edes, Gordon (August 6, 2015). ["Josh Rutledge, a 'Bama man, tries to make his place in Boston"](https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/red-sox/post/_/id/45909/josh-rutledge-a-bama-man-tries-to-make-his-place-in-boston). *ESPN.com*. Retrieved July 15, 2016.

1. ["Rockies trade Josh Rutledge to Angels for reliever Jairo Diaz"](http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_27114439/rockies-trade-josh-rutledge-angels-reliever-jairo-diaz). December 10, 2014.

1. Edes, Gordon (July 27, 2015). ["Red Sox trade 2013 hero Shane Victorino to Angels"](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13327804/boston-red-sox-trade-2013-hero-shane-victorino-los-angeles-angels). *ESPN.com*. Retrieved July 27, 2015.

1. Mastrodonato, Jason (April 24, 2016). ["Farrell: Josh Rutledge 'became a different hitter' since Red Sox acquired him"](http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/clubhouse_insider/2016/04/farrell_josh_rutledge_became_a_different_hitter_since_red). *Boston Herald*. Retrieved July 15, 2016.

1. Galanis, Sam (April 24, 2016). ["Pablo Sandoval Placed On Disabled List By Red Sox With Shoulder Strain"](http://nesn.com/2016/04/pablo-sandoval-hits-dl-with-left-shoulder-strain-josh-rutledge-recalled/). New England Sports Network. Retrieved July 15, 2016.

1. Mastrodonato, Jason (June 17, 2016). ["Josh Rutledge to the DL, Red Sox mull roster options"](http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/red_sox/clubhouse_insider/2016/06/josh_rutledge_to_the_dl_red_sox_mull_roster_options). *Boston Herald*. Retrieved July 15, 2016.

1. Lauber, Scott (July 14, 2016). ["Red Sox get lefty Drew Pomeranz, send Anderson Espinoza to Padres"](https://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/17079081/drew-pomeranz-headed-boston-red-sox-trade-san-diego-padres). *ESPN.com*. Retrieved July 15, 2016.

1. ["Josh Rutledge: Heads to free agency Friday"](http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/josh-rutledge-heads-to-free-agency-friday/). *cbssports.com*. November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 5, 2016.

1. Todd, Jeff (November 23, 2016). ["Minor MLB Transactions: 11/23/16"](http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/11/minor-mlb-transactions-112316.html). *mlbtraderumors.com*. Retrieved November 23, 2016.

1. ["2016 Rule 5 Draft results"](https://www.mlb.com/news/2016-rule-5-draft-results-c210580878). *MLB.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161220142048/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/210580878/2016-rule-5-draft-results/) December 20, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 8, 2016.

1. ["Josh Rutledge Undergoes Hip Surgery"](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/08/josh-rutledge-undergoes-hip-surgery.html). *mlbtraderumors.com*. August 30, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2024.

1. ["Red Sox Exercise Options On Chris Sale, Craig Kimbrel"](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/11/red-sox-exercise-options-on-chris-sale-craig-kimbrel.html). *mlbtraderumors.com*. November 2, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2024.

1. Adams, Steve (December 22, 2017). ["Minor MLB Transactions: 12/22/17"](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/minor-mlb-transactions-122217-2.html). *mlbtraderumors.com*. Retrieved December 22, 2017.

1. ["Giants Release Josh Rutledge"](https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/06/giants-release-josh-rutledge.html). *mlbtraderumors.com*. June 27, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2024.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Josh Rutledge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Rutledge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Rutledge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.