Nationals manager Dave Martinez said last week that Rutledge has been slowed by biceps soreness during spring training, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Washington invited the right-hander to big-league spring training, but he didn't see any use during the Grapefruit League slate while tending to the injury. While Martinez noted that Rutledge hasn't been shut down and has been doing some throwing of late, he'll likely open the season on the injured list at Low-A Fredericksburg or High-A Wilmington. The biceps issue is the latest in a growing list of injuries that have slowed Rutledge's development since he was selected in the first round of the 2019 first-year player draft.