Jake
Rucker

2021 MLB Draft: With mostly average tools and limited physical projection, Rucker doesn't have the highest ceiling, but he does have defensive versatility, high-level baseball skills and a high baseball IQ to go along with emerging power. Possessing average arm strength, steady defense and slightly above average power, he profiles best at second base or as a utility infielder at the professional level. In the batter's box, Rucker has an aggressive approach from the right side, but can struggle against quality breaking balls.

Similar to Ferguson, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Rucker is another Vol to evaluate on more than just one look. He’s a ballplayer and an easy comp to former Volunteer infielder, Andre Lipcius. Rucker has a little less power, but better defense and more speed than the former 3rd round pick. Rucker was a shortstop as a prep and handles the hot corner well with sure hands, above average arm strength and a quick release. He’s also an above runner who will steal an occasional base. At the plate he has a flat swing, doesn’t swing/miss much and will show average-to-above power, moreso in the game than batting practice where he can underwhelm at times. Rucker is another Volunteer who could land in the top three rounds of the 2021 draft.

60 Time: 6.87, Position Velocity:  IF-84, Exit Velocity: 89
6-foot-1, 165-pound, RHH hits from a balance and slightly open stance, uses a leg kick and a short stride with a smooth lowering and push back of his hands to get loaded, lower half fires very well to create separation and get his hips cleared, backside hitter can sit back at times, bat path is flat through the zone with lift at the end, Future Games participant showed well all summer and didn’t stop here, drove balls from gap to gap with some pop.  Defensively, showed smooth hands and footwork in playing through the ball from the shortstop position, uses athleticism to make any play around the infield, clean exchange and strong throws come through a high ¾ slot, one of the best uncommitted players in the state of Tennessee.

7/26/16 - Max FB: 86, FB: 83-86, CH: 75-76, 77-79 SL
6-foot-2, 170-pound, RHP is simply an athlete and uses it to his advantage on the mound, uses a simple, rhythmic, and very repeatable motion to deliver pitches through a high ¾ arm slot, loose arm translates from shortstop and helps in his ability to locate down in the zone, Rucker stays in line and has a quick arm out front.  Fastball showed some late and heavy run through the zone that makes it hard for hitters to square him up, breaking pitch acts as a slider and showed some sharp run with 10/4 shape that is extremely hard to hit the first time through the order, changeup was thrown with fastball arm speed and ran with a little fade once it entered the zone, all three pitches were thrown for strikes.  Rucker is one of the top uncommitted players left in the 2018 class.

7/26/16 - Home-1^st: 4.42, Position Velocity:  89, Exit Velocity: 89
6-foot-2, 170-pound, RHH hits from a balanced and very slightly open stance and begins with his hands fairly high, uses a smoother leg kick with a drop and push back of the hands to get loaded, lower half explodes through the zone and sometimes even over-rotates, back side falls into a good slot and produced a bat path that gets in the zone early and stays there throughout, sometimes sits back a little too far, showed some gap-to-gap power in BP and recorded a 2B and two 1Bs in game play.  Defensively, showed good footwork and soft hands as he consistently played through the ball very well and showcased his ability to cover a lot of ground, longer transfer with a glove pat leads to a long arm action through a high ¾ release point and a very strong arm across the infield. Rucker earned a spot on Tennessee’s Future Games team with his performance.