Drew Rucinski

Rucinski attended Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.^[1] He played college baseball at Ohio State University for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2008 to 2011.

The Cleveland Indians signed Rucinski as an undrafted free agent on June 15, 2011.^[2] He spent his first professional season split between the rookie–level Arizona League Indians, Low–A Mahoning Valley Scrappers, and Single–A Lake County Captains. In 22 appearances out of the bullpen, he logged a cumulative 4–0 record and 2.92 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 37.0 innings of work.^[3] Rucinski was released by the Indians organization on March 28, 2012.^[4]

On April 23, 2012, Rucinski signed with the Rockford RiverHawks of the Frontier League.^[5] In 22 games (15 starts), Rucinski logged a 7–4 record and 3.13 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 103+2⁄3 innings pitched.^[6] In 2013, Rucinski returned to Rockford, now the Aviators, making 15 starts and posting a 4–6 record and 2.88 ERA with 101 strikeouts in 100.0 innings of work.^[7]

On August 6, 2013, Rucinski signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels organization.^[8] He finished the year with the High–A Inland Empire 66ers, posting a 1.86 ERA across 5 starts. In 2014, Rucinski made 26 starts for the Double–A Arkansas Travelers, logging a 10–6 record and 3.15 ERA with 140 strikeouts in 148+2⁄3 innings pitched.^[9]

On July 10, 2014, Rucinski was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.^[10] In 3 games for the Angels, he logged a 4.91 ERA with 8 strikeouts in 7+1⁄3 innings pitched. In 2015, Rucinski made the Angels' Opening Day roster, beating out Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano.^[11] He made only 4 appearances for the team, struggling to a 7.71 ERA with 4 strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work. On September 1, 2015, Rucinski was designated for assignment following the promotion of Wesley Wright.^[12] On September 4, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Salt Lake Bees.^[13] He elected free agency following the season on November 6.^[14]

On November 16, 2015, Rucinski signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization.^[15] He spent the 2016 season with the Triple–A Iowa Cubs, making 28 starts and posting a 7–15 record and 5.92 ERA with 116 strikeouts in 155.0 innings of work. Rucinski elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016.^[16]

On December 15, 2016, Rucinski signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins.^[17] He began the 2017 season with the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings, posting a 3.48 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 10+1⁄3 innings pitched. On May 5, 2017, the Twins selected Rucinski's contract, adding him to the major league roster.^[18] He struggled immensely in two appearances for Minnesota, allowing five runs on ten hits and two walks in 4+1⁄3 innings of work. On June 11, Rucinski was designated for assignment following the promotion of Nik Turley.^[19] On June 15, he re–signed with the Twins on a minor league deal after briefly becoming a free agent.^[20] On September 6, Rucinski was released by the Twins organization.^[21]

On November 30, 2017, Rucinski signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins.^[22] He began the 2018 season with the Triple–A New Orleans Baby Cakes, posting a 2.52 ERA with 21 strikeouts across 14 appearances. Rucinski had his contract purchased to the major league roster on June 3, 2018.^[23] He made 32 relief appearances for Miami, recording a 4.33 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 35+1⁄3 innings pitched.^[24] On October 27, Rucinski was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A New Orleans; however, he subsequently elected free agency in lieu of the assignment.^[25]

On November 29, 2018, Rucinski signed a one-year, $600,000 contract with the NC Dinos of the KBO League.^[26] On January 1, 2021, Rucinski re-signed with the Dinos on a one-year, $1.6 million contract.^[27] He posted a 15–10 record with a 3.17 ERA and 177 strikeouts over 178+2⁄3 innings. On December 21, 2021, Rucinski re-signed with the Dinos to a $2 million deal, which tied for the second-most lucrative contract for a foreign player at the time of his signing.^[28] Rucinski was named a KBO All-Star for the team in 2022.^[29] He became a free agent after the 2022 season.

On December 21, 2022, Rucinski signed a one-year contract with the Oakland Athletics that contains a club option for the 2024 season.^[30] He began the 2023 season working out of Oakland's rotation, and went 0–4 through his first 4 starts with the club. On May 20, 2023, Rucinski was placed on the injured list with a gastrointestinal illness. On June 11, it was announced that he had recovered from the illness, but was dealing with a low–grade MCL sprain of his right knee.^[31] On June 20, Rucinski was transferred to the 60-day injured list.^[32] On July 18, it was announced that he would undergo season–ending back surgery to address a degenerative condition.^[33]

• Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet  · Baseball Almanac
• Ohio State Buckeyes bio