Meet a Prospect: Rodney Hutchison

The New York Yankees love to draft experienced college right-handed starting pitchers in the draft and develop them into useful pieces at the Major League level. The plan remains the same with the latest right-handed college arm to be drafted by New York in the draft, sixth-round pick and 187^th overall pick out of the University of North Carolina, Rodney Hutchison Jr. Let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Rodney Hutchison Edition.

Hutchison stands at an intimidating 6’6” and weighs in at 225 lbs. meaning if the right-hander doesn’t make it to the MLB level he has a definite fall back with the basketball team of pitchers that New York is preparing for. Hutchison has a fastball that can touch 94 MPH, a plus changeup and a slider (a pitch that the Yankees brass love) that is developing as his out-pitch. Hutchison split time this season with the UNC Tarheels bullpen and starting rotation where he posted a 3-3 record with a 4.63 ERA. Those numbers aren’t eye popping by any means, but his numbers as a starter were much more impressive than they were as a member of the bullpen.

Here is what Baseball America had to say about Hutchison before the draft:

“LISTED AT A THICK, 6-FOOT-6, 239 POUNDS, HUTCHISON’S STUFF HAS TAKEN A JUMP IN 2018 AND HE THROWS A HEAVY FASTBALL WITH LATE ARM-SIDE RUN FROM A LOW THREE-QUARTERS ARM SLOT. PRIMARILY WORKING AT 90-92 MPH HIS FIRST TWO SEASONS, HUTCHISON HAS LIVED 92-94 MPH MORE FREQUENTLY THIS SPRING AND TOUCHED 96 MPH IN AN EYE-OPENING OUTING IN FRONT OF SEVERAL ROWS OF SCOUTS AT THE ACC TOURNAMENT. HUTCHISON PAIRS HIS FASTBALL WITH A PLUS, MID-80S CHANGEUP WITH LATE FADE AWAY FROM LEFTHANDED HITTERS AND HE’S IMPROVED THE FEEL OF HIS SLIDER, THROWING IT HARDER AND TIGHTER. BECAUSE OF HIS LOW SLOT AND THE SHEER MOVEMENT OF HIS PITCHES, HUTCHISON CAN LOSE THE ZONE AT TIMES, GETTING HIM INTO TROUBLE. WHILE HE NEEDS MORE POLISH AND TO TIGHTEN HIS COMMAND, HUTCHISON’S VELOCITY SPIKE, PLUS CHANGEUP AND IMPROVED BREAKING PITCHES GIVE HIM INTRIGUING UPSIDE.”

Here's to hoping that Hutchison, a Yankees fan growing up, signs with the club. Go Yankees!!