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MLB

Rutherford Learning The Ropes

By Jarah Wright-Pulaski Yankees
August 9, 2016

  The New York Yankees selected Blake Rutherford as its number one pick in the 2016 draft out of Chaminade Prep High School in Simi Valley, California. Since arriving in Pulaski, he has hit .408 in 21 games with seven doubles, four triples, and home run with six RBIs. But if you ask Rutherford about his stats, he'll tell you that's not his focus for his rookie season.

     "I want to really evolve as a player and a person. I'm not really worried about stats this year," Rutherford said. "I'm more worried about becoming a professional and learn how to carry myself and get myself ready for the next season."

     The shy outfielder has been preparing himself for a career in baseball from a young age playing on several travel teams in California growing up. While there was a lot of anticipation that he would be drafted out of high school, nothing was certain.

     "I definitely didn't know that I'd be able to drafted at such a younger age," Rutherford said. "But as it got closer and I put in more work, I started to realize that it was my dream and that I could achieve it. It became more surreal and it's something I'll never forget."

     So whenever he heard his favorite team call his name in the MLB draft, he had a choice to make: go pro or go to UCLA where he had committed to play.

     "UCLA is a really good school and I had the opportunity to get a really good education. It definitely weighed heavy on my mind," Rutherford said. "But this was an opportunity I just couldn't pass up."

     And hearing his name was a dream come true.

     "I didn't expect to go as high as I did so I was staying open-minded and waiting for a team to call my name," Rutherford. "I was at my house with family and friends. When I heard the Yankees call my name, it was special because I never thought that I'd actually have the opportunity to play for such an amazing franchise. There were a lot of tears from everyone because they know I'm such a big Yankee fan, all the hard work I had put in, and the ups and downs that I've faced in baseball."

     Rutherford is now part of that franchise and has been working hard to adjust to professional baseball which he said has been smoother than he thought thanks to the help of his coaches and teammates.

     "It's been good. I'm a shy, high school kid and a lot of the guys came up to me and introduced themselves. They have all been nice, respectful, and are amazing baseball players. It's easy to connect with them since we have the same dreams and aspirations for the future," Rutherford said. "It's an amazing organization and they treat every single player top to bottom like they are a big leaguer."

     And with a bright future, Rutherford will continue learning and working his way up the ladder.

     "It's been an adjustment to playing every day so you have to make sure you're taking care of your body and getting ready to play every night," Rutherford said. "I'm learning a lot and am excited for the future."