URI’s Jackson Coutts Signs With World Series Champion Washington Nationals

Rhode Island’s Jackson Coutts signed a free agent contract with the Washington Nationals, Monday morning. The Orono, Maine native likely would have heard his name called in the 2020 MLB Draft, had the pandemic-affected event not been shortened to just five rounds, from its typical 40.

Before his junior season came to an abrupt end due to COVID-19, Coutts was hitting a blistering .451, which was the country’s 14th-best average. He also ranked ninth nationally in slugging percentage (.824), 11th in hits per game (1.77) and 12th in doubles per game (0.54).

Coutts went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI in a win at Maryland, and combined for four hits, four walks, three runs and an RBI in Rhody’s series split at 25th-ranked Arizona. The following week, he earned the Atlantic 10’s Player of the Week honors, after going 8-for-12 (.667) with two home runs and four doubles in a series at Delaware State.

In just 13 games during the abbreviated 2020 season, Coutts had 23 hits – including seven doubles and four homers – 15 runs scored and 12 batted in. Overall, he slugged .824 and had a .525 on-base percentage.

Coutts is the seventh Ram to sign with an MLB team since head coach Raphael Cerrato took over as URI’s head coach in 2015.