Michael Rucker
P | Bats/Throws: R/R | 6' 1" 195LBS | Age: 30
Draft: 2016 | Rd: 11, #344, Chicago Cubs | Brigham Young
W L ERA G GS SV IP SO WHIP
2021 0 0 6.99 20 0 1 28.1 30 1.52
2022 3 1 3.95 41 0 0 54.2 50 1.28
2023 2 1 4.91 35 0 0 40.1 40 1.44
3 Seasons 5 2 4.96 96 0 1 123.1 120 1.39
G W-L ERA IP SO WHIP
2021 20 0-0 6.99 28.1 30 1.52
2022 41 3-1 3.95 54.2 50 1.28
2023 35 2-1 4.91 40.1 40 1.44
3 Seasons 96 5-2 4.96 123.1 120 1.39
MLB Percentile Rankings
Movement Profile (Induced Break)
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Statcast Statistics

Season Age Pitches Batted
Balls		 Barrels Barrel % Barrel/PA Exit
Velocity		 Max EV Launch
Angle		 LA Sweet-
Spot %		 XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON HardHit% K% BB% ERA xERA
2021 27 490 83 9 10.8 7.1 90.8 113.5 11.9 36.1 .270 .500 .360 .361 .439 45.8 23.8 8.7 6.99 5.73
2022 28 914 159 13 8.2 5.7 89.8 118.4 13.4 27.0 .230 .376 .308 .297 .343 38.3 21.8 8.7 3.95 3.64
2023 29 719 114 9 7.9 5.1 91.6 109.9 7.8 32.5 .242 .396 .339 .325 .366 49.1 22.7 10.8 4.91 4.48
Player 2123 356 31 8.7 5.8 90.6 118.4 11.2 30.9 .244 .412 .331 .322 .373 43.6 22.6 9.4
MLB 7.0 4.8 88.5 122.4 12.3 33.2 .245 .405 .316 .315 .368 36.5 22.2 8.4
! Note: All figures in this table cover the period 2015-present.

Statcast Pitch Arsenal

Rucker relies on 6 pitches.
Four Seamer
(39.5%) ,
Cutter
(26.4%) ,
Slider
(17.4%) ,
Curveball
(10.3%) ,
Changeup
(4.5%) ,
Sinker
(1.9%) ,


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Pitch Tracking



Batted Ball Profile

Season GB % FB % LD % PU % Pull % Straight % Oppo % Weak % Topped % Under % Flare/Burner % Solid % Barrel % Barrel/PA
2021 45.8 27.7 22.9 3.6 30.1 45.8 24.1 0.0 33.7 18.1 30.1 7.2 10.8 7.1
2022 44.7 28.9 17.6 8.8 34.6 38.4 27.0 3.1 31.4 28.9 21.4 3.1 8.2 5.7
2023 51.8 13.2 26.3 8.8 37.7 43.9 18.4 1.8 40.4 18.4 26.3 5.3 7.9 5.1
Player 47.2 23.6 21.6 7.6 34.6 41.9 23.6 2.0 34.8 23.0 25.0 4.8 8.7 5.8
MLB 44.4 23.8 24.7 7.1 37.2 37.5 25.2 3.9 32.6 24.8 24.4 5.9 7.0 4.8
! Note: All figures in this table cover the period 2015-present.

Pitch Movement

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How this works: This section shows two different ways to evaluate pitch movement. On the left, “Total Movement” shows the real-world movement of a pitch, including the forces of gravity, which affects every pitch thrown. Since gravity requires time, and slower pitches aren't 'better' just because they have more time to move, a pitch's movement is compared to other pitches of the same pitch type, within +/- 2 MPH and +/- 0.5 feet of extension/release. On the right, Induced Movement (or IVB) is reported without gravity, and attempts to isolate movement created by the pitcher's ability to spin and manipulate the ball.
Total Movement (in inches, w/ gravity)Induced Movement (in inches, w/o gravity)
YearPitchTeamHand#MPHVertical
Drop		vs.
Comparable		Horizontal
Break		vs.
Comparable		Vertical
Break		vs. AvgHorizontal
Break		vs. Avg
2023 4-Seam Fastball CHC R 284 94.6 14.5 0.6 5.4ARM -2.5 16.0 0.2 5.4ARM -2.0
2023 Slider CHC R 125 85.9 39.7 4.2 3.8GLV -1.0 -2.7 4.2 3.8GLV -1.5
2023 Curveball CHC R 74 80.8 51.8 0.9 14.3GLV 5.0 -9.5 -0.4 14.3GLV 5.4
2023 Changeup CHC R 32 90.5 29.9 0.2 13.5ARM -1.8 3.4 2.0 13.5ARM -0.9
2023 Cutter CHC R 190 89.5 29.6 -3.3 2.8GLV 0.6 4.4 -3.5 2.8GLV 0.2
2023 Sinker CHC R 14 94.0 23.4 0.3 13.6ARM -1.8 7.4 0.2 13.6ARM -1.4
2022 Changeup CHC R 74 90.0 29.5 0.2 14.6ARM -0.5 4.3 1.6 14.6ARM 0.4
2022 Curveball CHC R 153 80.6 51.9 1.2 15.5GLV 5.7 -9.5 -0.4 15.5GLV 6.3
2022 Slider CHC R 216 86.0 38.1 2.9 3.9GLV -0.9 -1.3 3.1 3.9GLV -1.9
2022 4-Seam Fastball CHC R 379 94.7 14.5 0.3 7.4ARM -0.7 16.0 -0.2 7.4ARM 0.2
2022 Cutter CHC R 40 88.4 31.2 -4.6 3.1GLV 1.1 3.4 -4.9 3.1GLV 0.4
! Note: Years are in reverse order.

Run Values by Pitch Type

Year Pitch Type Team RV/100 Run Value Pitches % PA BA SLG wOBA Whiff% K% PutAway % xBA xSLG xwOBA Hard Hit %
2023 4-Seam Fastball -1.4 -4 284 39.5 78 .323 .548 .421 14.4 11.5 12.3 .320 .541 .422 58.2
2023 Cutter 0.4 1 190 26.4 47 .250 .477 .333 33.0 25.5 33.3 .220 .348 .272 40.6
2023 Slider 1.0 1 125 17.4 34 .156 .188 .184 49.0 41.2 27.5 .151 .257 .203 38.9
2023 Curveball -0.4 0 74 10.3 10 .200 .400 .250 31.3 50.0 25.0 .176 .240 .180 60.0
2023 Changeup 0.1 0 32 4.5 6 .250 .250 .533 33.3 0.0 0.0 .163 .163 .333 25.0
2023 Sinker -3.1 0 14 1.9 1 -- -- .700 40.0 0.0 0.0 -- -- .700 --
2022 4-Seam Fastball 0.8 3 392 42.9 98 .222 .407 .328 20.3 14.3 13.6 .235 .413 .337 39.1
2022 Slider -0.5 -1 227 24.8 55 .231 .442 .320 46.2 45.5 33.3 .193 .343 .269 51.9
2022 Curveball 1.4 2 157 17.2 39 .211 .211 .226 19.3 17.9 14.3 .237 .315 .252 19.4
2022 Changeup 3.1 2 77 8.4 21 .238 .286 .231 13.2 9.5 7.1 .305 .351 .288 52.6
2022 Cutter -3.8 -2 40 4.4 10 .400 .700 .422 31.8 20.0 25.0 .199 .559 .310 25.0
! Note: Years are in reverse order.
! Note: To better align with other values, positive numbers (red) are good, and negative numbers (blue) are poor.

Spin Direction

Year Pitch Type Pitches MPH Active Spin % Total Movement (In.) Spin-Based Observed Deviation
2023 Changeup 31 90.5 78 14.6 1:30 2:45 -75
2023 Curveball 74 80.8 76 19.4 7:15 7:45 -30
2023 Cutter 186 89.5 28 4.8 11:30 10:30 60
2023 4-Seam Fastball 281 94.6 82 16.4 1:00 12:45 15
2023 Sinker 14 94.0 80 15.6 1:00 2:15 -75
2023 Slider 123 85.9 35 6.5 8:15 7:30 45
2022 Changeup 69 90.0 90 15.7 1:45 2:30 -45
2022 Curveball 150 80.7 76 20.3 7:15 7:45 -30
2022 Cutter 40 88.4 24 4.8 11:15 10:00 75
2022 4-Seam Fastball 379 94.7 89 17.3 1:15 1:00 15
2022 Slider 215 86.0 28 5.9 9:00 8:00 60
! Note: Years are in reverse order.
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! Note: This table is showing data from the PITCHER perspective.
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Pitcher Arm Angle

! Note: Data is available from 2020 through the present.
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Swing/Take

Runs
Year Team PA Pitches Heart Shadow Chase Waste All
2021 126 490 -3 5 -6 -3 -7
2022 223 893 7 5 -4 -3 5
2023 176 719 6 4 -8 -5 -3
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Plate Discipline

Season Pitches Zone % Zone Swing % Zone Contact % Chase % Chase Contact % Edge % 1st Pitch Strike % Swing % Whiff % Meatball % Meatball Swing %
2021 490 45.3 72.1 80.6 31.3 48.8 37.3 61.9 49.8 30.3 6.3 87.1
2022 914 45.6 72.0 82.6 28.8 52.9 43.3 55.5 48.4 25.8 5.9 79.2
2023 719 44.9 67.2 83.9 23.5 45.2 39.2 56.3 43.1 27.7 6.7 93.8
Player 2,123 45.3 70.4 82.5 27.6 49.5 40.5 57.3 46.9 27.5 6.3 86.4
MLB 48.7 67.0 82.0 28.5 57.8 42.6 61.0 47.2 25.0 7.3 76.3
! Note: All figures in this table cover the period 2015-present.

Percentile Rankings

Year xwOBA /
xERA 		xBA xSLG xISO xOBP Brl Brl% EV Hard
Hit% 		K% BB% Whiff% Chase
Rate 		FB
Velo 		FB
Spin 		CB
Spin 		Extension
2021 75 55 66 49
2022 58 59 52 46 62 62 33 16 47 42 38 53 44 65 63 54 36
2023 60 65 66 39
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Expected Home Runs

Adjusted
Year Team Avg HR Trot Actual HR xHR HR-xHR Doubters Mostly Gone No Doubters No Doubter %
2021 22.8 5 5.0 0 5 3 2 40.0
2022 24.5 8 6.8 1 2 8 1 12.5
2023 22.5 6 4.7 1 2 4 1 16.7
Player 23.4 19 16.4 3 9 15 4 21.1
Note: xHR tells how many of this pitcher's home runs allowed would have been out of other stadiums. The "Adjusted" view here accounts for different wall heights, distances and environmental effects using Statcast Park Factor data.
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Expected Home Runs by Park

Adjusted
Year HR
2021 5 7 4 5 5 5 5 6 3 4 4 8 6 4 5 4 4 6 5 5 5 5 8 4 4 4 6 5 5 5 3
2022 8 6 6 5 8 9 9 5 4 4 6 7 6 6 9 8 7 7 5 8 6 5 10 7 5 7 7 7 7 9 8
2023 6 5 3 5 6 5 5 4 4 5 5 5 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 4 5 3
Player 19 18 13 15 19 19 19 15 11 13 15 20 16 14 19 17 16 18 15 18 15 15 23 16 14 16 17 17 16 19 14
Note: xHR tells how many of this pitcher's home runs allowed would have been out of other stadiums. The "Adjusted" view here accounts for different wall heights, distances and environmental effects using Statcast Park Factor data.
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Year to Year Changes

Metric 2021 2022 +/-   2023 +/-  
Fastball Velocity 92.8 94.1 1.3 ↑ 92.6 -1.5 ↓
Offspeed Velocity 90.5 90.0 -0.5 ↓ 90.5 0.5 ↑
Breaking Velocity 83.1 83.8 0.7 ↑ 84.0 0.2 ↑
Exit Velocity 90.8 89.8 -1.0 ↓ 91.6 1.8 ↑
Launch Angle 11.9 13.4 1.5 ↑ 7.8 -5.6 ↓
Barrel % 10.8 8.2 -2.6 ↓ 7.9 -0.3 ↓
Hard Hit % 45.8 38.3 -7.5 ↓ 49.1 10.8 ↑
LA Sweet-Spot % 36.1 27.0 -9.1 ↓ 32.5 5.5 ↑
xBA .270 .230 -0.040 ↓ .242 0.012 ↑
BA .286 .242 -0.044 ↓ .257 0.015 ↑
xwOBA .361 .297 -0.064 ↓ .325 0.028 ↑
wOBA .360 .308 -0.052 ↓ .339 0.031 ↑
xSLG .500 .376 -0.124 ↓ .396 0.020 ↑
SLG .482 .396 -0.086 ↓ .434 0.038 ↑
K% 23.8 21.8 -2.0 ↓ 22.7 0.9 ↑
BB% 8.7 8.7 0.0 10.8 2.1 ↑
Swing % 49.8 48.4 -1.4 ↓ 43.1 -5.3 ↓
Whiff% 30.3 25.8 -4.5 ↓ 27.7 1.9 ↑
In Zone % 45.3 45.6 0.3 ↑ 44.9 -0.7 ↓
Out of Zone % 54.7 54.4 -0.3 ↓ 55.1 0.7 ↑
Out of Zone Swing % 31.3 28.8 -2.5 ↓ 23.5 -5.3 ↓
First Pitch Swing % 33.3 27.5 -5.8 ↓ 30.1 2.6 ↑
First Pitch Strike % 61.9 55.5 -6.4 ↓ 56.3 0.8 ↑
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Statcast Fielder Positioning

vs RHHvs LHH
YearAlignment TypePAwOBAPATotal%PATotal%
2021 Shifts 126 .360 65 13 20.0 61 39 63.9
2022 Shifts 223 .298 136 35 25.7 87 57 65.5
2023 Shades 176 .339 95 1 1.1 81 32 39.5
! Note: Shifts are through the 2022 season, Shaded starting from the 2023 season, Shift: three or more infielders are on the same side of second base, Shade: positioned outside of their typical responsible slices of the field.
Learn more about how positioning is defined here

Pitch Tempo

Bases EmptyRunners On Base
SeasonTeamPitchesTempoFast %Slow %PitchesTempoFast %Slow %
2021 132 18.4 8.3% 2.3% 83 21.8 0.0% 4.8%
2022 239 17.6 12.6% 3.3% 172 19.7 0.6% 2.9%
2023 208 15.3 47.6% 0.0% 133 17.0 17.3% 0.0%

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Pitch Distribution

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