Michael Rucker Stats & Scouting Report

IP	4.2
ERA	3.86
WHIP	.86
BB/9	0
SO/9	5.79

Full name Michael Patrick Rucker
Born 04/27/1994 in Columbus, MS
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Brigham Young
Debut 07/30/2021
Drafted in the 11th round (344th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2016 (signed for $180,000).

View Draft Report

Rucker began his college career at Gonzaga before transferring to Brigham Young and sitting out the 2014 season. After spending most of his first BYU season in the bullpen, Rucker became the Cougars' Friday night starter as a redshirt junior. He posted a standout 11-1, 2.73 record, losing for the first time to Gonzaga in the conference tournament when he was outdueled by Brandon Bailey. While his stuff isn't flashy, Rucker gets results by throwing a 90-93 mph fastball, touching 96, for strikes. He has good feel for the curveball and changeup and also uses a slider. The secondary pitches are all below-average offerings. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Rucker doesn't offer a lot of projection and may profile better as a future reliever but he's competitive on the mound.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Like many pitchers who go to Brigham Young, Rucker was old for his draft class. However, it's not because he went on his Mormon mission trip. His career began at Gonzaga, but he transferred to BYU and converted from Catholicism to being Mormon after meeting his now-wife Sydney. Rucker sat out a year as a transfer, then thrived (11-1, 2.73) in 2016 in the West Coast Conference, which featured second-round picks A.J. Puckett and Mitch White and fourth-rounder Corbin Burnes as opposing Friday night starters. Rucker fell to the 11th round but got an above-slot $180,000 bonus. The lower levels of the Cubs' system are crowded with pitchers, but in 2017 Rucker pitched his way from the low Class A South Bend bullpen to Myrtle Beach's rotation and was the Pelicans' first playoff starter. His fastball hits 96 mph when he relieves, sitting more in the 89-93 range as a starter. He can pitch to both sides of the plate with it and has excellent control, pounding the bottom of the strike zone. His ability to locate his slider and changeup helps them play up; both bump average, and he'll flip in a curveball as well. Rucker may wind up in the bullpen but will get time to develop as a starter, heading to Double-A Tennessee to open 2018.

Draft Prospects

School: Minnesota Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 22.1
Wietgrefe spent a season with North Iowa Area JC in 2022 before transferring to Minnesota where he was a reliable reliever in 2023 and then successful starter as a junior in 2024. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound lefthander, Wietgrefe posted a 2.88 ERA over 78 innings and 13 starts this spring with a 21.5% strikeout rate and 7.6% walk rate. After the season he pitched with Bourne in the Cape Cod League where he struck out 12 batters and walked just one in his first two starts. Wietgrefe throws from a low three-quarters slot and has a four-pitch mix, though he mostly works off his fastball/slider combination. He sits in the low 90s and touches 95 with his sinking fastball and generates a lot of spin on his low-80s sweeping slider. The slider is Wietgrefe’s best swing-and-miss pitch, but he also has an upper-80s cutter and mid-80s changeup.
Rucker began his college career at Gonzaga before transferring to Brigham Young and sitting out the 2014 season. After spending most of his first BYU season in the bullpen, Rucker became the Cougars' Friday night starter as a redshirt junior. He posted a standout 11-1, 2.73 record, losing for the first time to Gonzaga in the conference tournament when he was outdueled by Brandon Bailey. While his stuff isn't flashy, Rucker gets results by throwing a 90-93 mph fastball, touching 96, for strikes. He has good feel for the curveball and changeup and also uses a slider. The secondary pitches are all below-average offerings. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Rucker doesn't offer a lot of projection and may profile better as a future reliever but he's competitive on the mound.

Career Transactions

Washington Nationals recalled RHP Michael Rucker from Rochester Red Wings.
Rochester Red Wings activated RHP Michael Rucker.
Washington Nationals claimed RHP Michael Rucker off waivers from Philadelphia Phillies.
Washington Nationals optioned RHP Michael Rucker to Rochester Red Wings.
Washington Nationals reassigned RHP Michael Rucker to the minor leagues.
RHP Michael Rucker roster status changed by Philadelphia Phillies.
Philadelphia Phillies designated RHP Michael Rucker for assignment.
Philadelphia Phillies optioned RHP Michael Rucker to Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Philadelphia Phillies activated RHP Michael Rucker from the 60-day injured list.
Philadelphia Phillies sent RHP Michael Rucker on a rehab assignment to Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Philadelphia Phillies sent RHP Michael Rucker on a rehab assignment to Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Philadelphia Phillies sent RHP Michael Rucker on a rehab assignment to Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Philadelphia Phillies sent RHP Michael Rucker on a rehab assignment to Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Philadelphia Phillies sent RHP Michael Rucker on a rehab assignment to Reading Fightin Phils.
Clearwater Threshers sent RHP Michael Rucker on a rehab assignment to Reading Fightin Phils.
Philadelphia Phillies sent RHP Michael Rucker on a rehab assignment to Reading Fightin Phils.
Philadelphia Phillies sent RHP Michael Rucker on a rehab assignment to Clearwater Threshers.
Philadelphia Phillies sent RHP Michael Rucker on a rehab assignment to Clearwater Threshers.
Philadelphia Phillies transferred RHP Michael Rucker from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Right hand arterial vasospasm.
Philadelphia Phillies placed RHP Michael Rucker on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 25, 2024. Right hand arterial vasospasm.
Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Michael Rucker to Iowa Cubs.
Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Michael Rucker to Iowa Cubs.
Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Michael Rucker from Iowa Cubs.
Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Michael Rucker from Iowa Cubs.
Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Michael Rucker to Iowa Cubs.
Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Michael Rucker to Iowa Cubs.