Jackson Rutledge Heads to Japan | Washington Nationals News

Jackson Rutledge, once a top-17 draft pick by the Nationals, is heading overseas to Japan’s Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks after a rocky MLB journey. Once seen as a frontline starter, his struggles—highlighted by a 5.77 ERA in 2025 and brief stints with the Phillies—led to his release. Now 27, Rutledge hopes Japan can be his comeback story, following in the footsteps of pitchers like Foster Griffin who thrived abroad and returned to MLB. His role with the Hawks remains uncertain, but the move offers a fresh start—and a chance to prove he still has what it takes to make it back to the majors. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/bb91c16b58d74573