TAMPA — A year ago at this time, Blake Rutherford was displaying high-end skills that had him projected to be a first-round pick. And not knowing that life was going to present him with a terrifying experience.
Scouts drooled over the 6-foot-3, 195-pound lefty-swinging center fielder from Simi Valley, Calif., as Rutherford starred for Chaminade College Prep. Already committed to UCLA, Rutherford waited for the MLB draft in June, when Rutherford would be selected by the Yankees, his favorite team, with the 18th pick.
But on the way to church with his mother, Julie, on the morning of May 8 — Mother’s Day — the phone chirped with news nobody wants to hear.
Rutherford’s father, Roy, was involved in a head-on automobile collision in Simi Valley that took the life of the other driver and delivered severe damage to the father of two, who was Blake’s coach for almost as long as he had played baseball.
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“It was coming down to the draft and there were a lot of emotions, and at that time you are feeling good about your future, and then you realize just how quickly life can change,’’ the 19-year-old said Monday at the Yankees’ minor league complex, where Single-A Charleston played the Phillies’ Lakewood club. “That moment, even though he was lucky enough to survive, it was a life-changing moment for my family. There has been a lot of recovery stuff he has had to go through, and he’s still rehabbing. He’s in good spirits now, but it definitely humbles you. And you can never take life for granted. Always tell your loved ones you love them every opportunity you get.’’
Roy Rutherford fractured a hip, dislocated and broke a toe, has no feeling in his left ankle and lost part of a pinkie. He walks with a cane. Rutherford talks to his dad twice a day, and the hope is that having not seen his son play since the crash, Roy will be able to do that this season.
As Blake worried about his father, played high school baseball and wondered about the draft, he and his brother Cole, a first baseman at Cornell, leaned on their mother for support.
“It was a hard situation, and she was a rock for me and my brother. My brother was in college, and I was trying to figure out what I was going to do and still compete,’’ Blake said. “She was a solid rock for my family. I don’t know how she did it.’’
Not only did Rutherford, born in Morristown, NJ, get drafted by the team of his dreams — his favorite player was Derek Jeter — Roy was with his son when the call came from the Yankees.
“Just having him there sharing that moment, there were a lot of tears, and the stress was gone and I could go play baseball again,’’ said Rutherford, who signed for $3.282 million.
Later this week, Rutherford will find out where he will start the season. Charleston is a possibility after he played 33 games last year for Rookie League Pulaski and the Yankees West in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, hitting a combined .351 with three homers, 12 RBIs and a .986 OPS.
Regardless of where he is assigned, it will be viewed as a learning experience.
“I’m excited to have my first full season wherever I am,’’ said Rutherford, who likely will remain in center field, where his above-average speed plays well. “I’m excited to play games and continue to learn.’’
Some scouts are leery of taking 19-year-old kids out of high school, but the population and education routines have changed, and there are more 19-year-old seniors. The Yankees weren’t scared off by Blake Rutherford turning 19 last May 2.
“One of the things we liked when we started looking at him [in 10th grade] was that he always showed tools, played hard and performed better than the group ahead of him,’’ Yankees amateur scouting director Damon Oppenheimer said. “The way he played was enjoyable to watch. He hit the ball hard without a lot of strikeouts.’’
