2024 SEASON (As a Freshman): Appeared in 27 games during his first year on The Mesa, making six starts in left field and three at designated hitter… Batted .171 for the season (7-41) with three doubles and six RBIs… Also drew eight walks… Logged his first career start vs. Portland in the second game of the year as a designated hitter, finishing with a season-high two walks in a narrow 7-6 loss (2-17-24)… Walked and scored a run in the Aztecs’ 7-5 setback to CSUN at home (2-21-24)… Also laced a two-out ninth inning single in that contest vs. the Matadors for his first collegiate hit… Posted his first career RBI vs. Utah at the Tony Gwynn Legacy (2-25-24)… Ripped his first collegiate double against San Diego (3-5-24)… Scored a season-high two runs in the Aztecs’ 13-0 run-rule victory over New Mexico in the nightcap of a doubleheader (3-29-24)… Also doubled and lifted a sacrifice fly in that contest vs. the Lobos… Drove in a season-best two runs with a double to left center in the ninth inning at San José State as a late SDSU rally fell short (4-7-24)… Contributed an RBI groundout as a pinch hitter vs. No. 15/17 UC Irvine (4-20-24).
PRIOR TO COLLEGE: Graduated in 2023 from Santa Margarita Catholic High School, where he won three varsity letters for head coach Chris Malec… Twice garnered all-conference accolades during his sophomore and senior seasons… Hit .281 with three homers, 22 RBIs and 14 runs scored in 2023, according to MaxPreps, lifting the Eagles to the Trinity League title before capturing the CIF SoCal Division I baseball championship… Was slotted 19th among outfielders for the 2023 graduating class in California by Perfect Game and received a No. 123 ranking in the state overall… Was also named a Top 500 recruit nationally by the website was ranked 147th at the outfield position… Received preseason all-region honorable mention for California from Perfect Game prior to the 2023 campaign after earning the same distinction as an underclassman the previous year… Landed on multiple all-tournament teams at Perfect Game sponsored events, including the 2022 17U World Series in Surprise, Arizona, where he competed as a member of the SoCal Giants club team… Also accomplished the feat at the same venue playing for the TB SoCal Easton squad at the 2021 18U PG Fall National Championship and as a member of the Saddleback Cowboys program at the 2020 PG 16U Mountain West Elite Championship… Additionally drew interest from Washington, California, Cal Poly and Oregon during the recruiting process… A multi-sport athlete who also lettered in lacrosse as a prep freshman.
PERSONAL: Born in Mission Viejo, California… Parents are Joe and Kourtney Rutter… Lists Mike Trout as his favorite athlete… Enjoys going to the beach… Plans to major in business at San Diego State with aspirations to play professional baseball.