Keibert Ruiz | |
---|---|
Washington Nationals – No. 20 | |
Catcher | |
Born: Valencia, Venezuela | July 20, 1998|
Bats: Switch Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 16, 2020, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
MLB statistics (through September 1,2024) | |
Batting average | .246 |
Home runs | 41 |
Runs batted in | 165 |
Stats at Baseball Reference | |
Teams | |
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
Keibert Jose Ruiz (born July 20,1998) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ruiz was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent in 2014 for $140,000. [1] He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Dodgers in 2015 and spent the whole season there,batting .300 with one home run,19 RBIs,and eight doubles in 44 games. He spent 2016 with both the Arizona League Dodgers and the Ogden Raptors where he posted a combined .374 batting average with two home runs,48 RBIs,a .412 OBP and a .939 OPS in 56 total games between both teams. In 2017,he began the year with the Great Lakes Loons where he was selected to the Midwest League mid-season All-Star Team [2] and was then promoted to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League. [3] The Dodgers selected him as their Minor League Player of the Year for 2017 [4] after he hit .316 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs in 101 games between Great Lakes and Rancho Cucamonga. [5]
Ruiz was promoted to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers for the 2018 season and was selected to represent them at the mid-season Texas League All-Star Game. [6] He was also selected to the "world" team at the All-Star Futures Game [7] and to the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game. [8] In 101 games for Tulsa,he hit .268 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs. [9] The Dodgers added him to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season. [10]
Ruiz began 2019 with Tulsa. [11] He was selected to the mid-season Texas League All-Star Game. [12] Ruiz was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers in July. [13] However,he suffered a broken finger in early August that ended his season prematurely. [14] Between the two levels,he hit .261 with six homers and 34 RBI in 85 games in 2019. [5]
Ruiz was called up to the Majors for the first time on August 15,2020 [15] and made his MLB debut the following day as the starting catcher against the Los Angeles Angels. [16] He hit a home run in his first at-bat,against Julio Teherán of the Angels. [17] He appeared in only two games during the pandemic shortened 2020 season,with two hits in eight at-bats. [18] Ruiz was on the Dodgers roster for the 2020 National League Wild Card Series but did not appear in a game. He was left off the roster for the 2020 National League Division Series. [19]
In 2021,Ruiz appeared in six games for the Dodgers,with one hit (a home run) in seven at-bats. [18] With Oklahoma City,he hit .311 in 52 games with 16 homers and 45 RBI. [5]
On July 30,2021,the Dodgers traded Ruiz,Josiah Gray,Donovan Casey,and Gerardo Carrillo to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Trea Turner and Max Scherzer. [20] Ruiz homered in his debut as a member of the Nationals organization on August 3,2021,for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. [21] Ruiz was called back up to the Majors on August 30 and made his Nationals debut the same day,going 1-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies. He would finish the season with a .272/.333/.409 slash line with 3 home runs in 96 plate appearances at the MLB level with the Dodgers and the Nationals.
On March 11,2023,the Nationals announced that Ruiz had signed an eight-year contract extension. The contract,reportedly worth $50 million,ran through 2030,covering his last five seasons of club control and first three years of free agency,and included one-year club options for 2031 and 2032. [22]
Ruiz is married to Ryena and the couple has one son named Keibert Jr. [23]
Below is a partial list of Minor League Baseball players in the Los Angeles Dodgers system.
Alexander Brady Verdugo is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
Yadier Álvarez Ventosa is a Cuban former professional baseball pitcher.
Yadir Drake Dominguez is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder for the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican Baseball League.
James Kyle Farmer is an American professional baseball infielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Cincinnati Reds,and Minnesota Twins. He made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Dodgers.
Yusniel Efraín Díaz Hechavarría is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles.
Gavin Thomas Lux is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB).
William Dills Smith is an American professional baseball catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Louisville Cardinals. He was selected by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft,and made his MLB debut in 2019. Smith is a two-time All-Star and won the World Series with the Dodgers in 2020 and 2024.
Jeren Alan Kendall is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores and was selected by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2017 MLB Draft,where he played in their farm system through the 2022 season.
Edwin Gabriel Ríos is a Puerto Rican professional baseball third baseman and first baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. He played college baseball for Florida International University. Ríos was drafted by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft and debuted for them in 2019.
Matthew Thomas Beaty is an American professional baseball first baseman and left fielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers,San Diego Padres,San Francisco Giants,and Kansas City Royals. He played college baseball for the Belmont Bruins. The Dodgers selected Beaty in the 12th round of the 2015 MLB draft,and he made his MLB debut with them in 2019.
Lucas John Raley is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays.
Josiah Gray is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.
Kody Michael Hoese is an American professional baseball third baseman in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
Michael James Busch is an American professional baseball infielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels and made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Dodgers.
Dustin Jake May is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft,and made his MLB debut in 2019. The Dodgers won the World Series with him in 2020.
Zachary McKinstry is an American professional baseball utility player for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.
Andy Pages is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2024.
Miguel Antonio Vargas is a Cuban professional baseball second baseman and left fielder for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
James Matthew Outman is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022.