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Rustan Rigdon, SS, Metter
Vandy Commit. 6-foot, 180 pounds. When a player can check nearly every single box of evaluation in a 2 game span, that’s what makes me feel I’m looking at a possible Day 1 draft prospect for 2024. Rigdon did exactly that, and it started with I/O. Coming off throwing 120 pitches the day before, he seemed to be fresh throughout his infield routine. Knowing his body and arm had to be exhausted, it was even more impressive that he was able to show good footwork, anticipation, hands, body balance, and a strong+accurate arm. Showing an easy MLB avg arm with plus accuracy while being surely sapped of energy was eye opening, as was his buttery glove work and one of the more fluid exchanges I’ve seen in the past year. Once the game started other scouts and I felt we’d have to be extremely lucky for him to see any pitches to hit, considering he went deep dead center AB 1 in game 1 of the series. It was luck we received on a quick pitch middle away FB that he peppered off the wall in left center for a 2B. What was most impressive about it? The sequence and perfect inside-out swing path he took to get to the ball. Firstly, he gradually/slowly angled his shoulders & hips to left center in stride so they were pointing where he wanted the ball to go at foot strike. This enables him to rotate that way while still maintaining lower half direction up the middle. But what truly separates his inside-out swing from other top bats is his natural feel and discipline to keep his barrel inside the hands (hands+elbows work along rib cage) until reaching layback, which is when the hands reach the hitting zone and his bat is laying off the back shoulder. The connection of his hands to the upper half and ability to steepen his shoulder plane allows him to match pitch trajectory and get the perfect launch angle for backspin and loft. This is without question the best inside out swing in the class, and that bodes very well for Rigdon’s Hit for Average tool and XBH production. His ability to keep his hands and barrel inside the ball will give him hits even if he gets beat inside occasionally. This dude is the real deal.

#Vandy ‘24 SS Rustan Rigdon

Showing off his silky actions a day after throwing 120 pitches! Anticipates very well, glides on dirt w/ subtle push to stop ⚾️ in its tracks. Exchange flows like water, body control w/ accurate throws off balance. Arm 🔒 for plus.@ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/AJGUseBQto

— Justin Goetz (@JGoetzPBR) May 11, 2023