Keibert Ruiz is a promising young catcher who made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. In July 2021, Ruiz was traded to the Washington Nationals in a blockbuster deal that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers.
Since joining the Nationals, Ruiz has shown flashes of his potential both at the plate and behind it, and has gained confidence in his abilities as a catcher.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at Ruiz’s career so far, including his early years in the minors, his major league debut, and his recent performance with the Nationals.
We’ll also discuss Ruiz’s future prospects and what fans can expect from him in the years to come.
Early Career
Keibert Ruiz was born on July 20, 1998, in Valencia, Venezuela. He began his professional baseball career in 2014 when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent.
Ruiz quickly rose through the Dodgers’ minor league system, showing impressive hitting and defensive skills as a catcher.
In his first full minor league season in 2017, Ruiz played for the Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. He batted .316 with eight home runs and 51 RBI across both levels, earning him recognition as the Dodgers’ minor league player of the year.
Ruiz continued to impress in 2018, batting .268 with 12 home runs and 47 RBI for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. He was also selected to play in the prestigious All-Star Futures Game that year.
By 2019, Ruiz was widely considered one of the Dodgers’ top prospects, and he was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He struggled somewhat in his first stint at that level, batting just .233 in 37 games, but still demonstrated enough potential to earn a spot on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Overall, Ruiz’s minor league career was marked by consistent offensive production and solid defensive skills. He was regarded as one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball, and many analysts predicted a bright future for him at the major league level.
Major League Debut
Keibert Ruiz made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 16, 2020, in a game against the Los Angeles Angels. He went hitless in his first two at-bats but recorded his first major league hit in the seventh inning.
Despite the excitement surrounding his debut, Ruiz saw limited playing time for the remainder of the 2020 season. He appeared in just two more games, going hitless in three plate appearances.
His struggles at the plate were understandable given his lack of experience at the major league level, but they were nonetheless disappointing for Dodgers fans who had been eagerly anticipating his arrival.
Ruiz’s limited playing time in 2020 was partially due to the presence of veteran catchers Will Smith and Austin Barnes on the Dodgers’ roster. However, it was also a reflection of his need for further development as a hitter and defender at the major league level.
Overall, Ruiz’s debut season was a modest one, but it provided a glimpse of his potential as a major league catcher. It was clear that he had the tools to be successful, but he would need to continue to hone his skills in order to make a larger impact in the years to come.
Trade to the Nationals
Keibert Ruiz’s time with the Dodgers was short-lived, as he was traded to the Washington Nationals in July 2021 as part of a blockbuster deal that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers.
The trade was a significant one for both teams, with the Dodgers acquiring two high-profile players and the Nationals receiving four prospects in return, including Ruiz.
For the Nationals, Ruiz was seen as a key piece of the trade. As a highly-regarded catching prospect, he provided depth and potential at a position of need for the team.
The Nationals had struggled to find consistent production from their catchers in recent years, and Ruiz represented a long-term solution to that problem.
In addition to his potential as a catcher, Ruiz’s inclusion in the trade was likely due in part to the Dodgers’ depth at the position. With Will Smith and Austin Barnes already on the roster, the Dodgers were in a position to trade Ruiz in order to acquire other assets.
Overall, the trade was a win-win for both teams, with the Dodgers acquiring two elite players for their playoff push and the Nationals acquiring four promising prospects, including Keibert Ruiz, for their rebuilding efforts.
Recent Performance
After being traded to the Washington Nationals in July 2021, Keibert Ruiz made his debut with the team in early August. Since then, he has seen regular playing time as a catcher and has continued to showcase his potential both at the plate and behind it.
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Ruiz had played in 17 games for the Nationals, batting .237 with one home run and six RBI. He had also shown good discipline at the plate, posting a .356 on-base percentage thanks in part to his ability to draw walks.
Defensively, Ruiz had also impressed, earning praise from Nationals manager Dave Martinez for his ability to handle the pitching staff and call games from behind the plate.
He had also thrown out two of the six runners who had attempted to steal against him, demonstrating his strong arm and quick release.
Overall, Ruiz’s performance with the Nationals had been encouraging in his limited playing time. While his batting average was not eye-popping, he had shown good plate discipline and a willingness to work deep counts.
Defensively, he had shown the potential to be a strong catcher, both in terms of his ability to call games and his arm strength.
Confidence Boost
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, there had been some indications that Keibert Ruiz’s confidence was growing since joining the Washington Nationals.
In particular, he had shown more aggressiveness at the plate, swinging at more pitches early in counts and looking to drive the ball when he got his pitch.
This newfound confidence was evident in a game against the New York Mets in late August, when Ruiz hit his first career major league home run. The blast came off Mets starter Taijuan Walker, and was a line drive that just cleared the fence in left-center field.
After the game, Ruiz said that he was “feeling more comfortable” at the plate and that he was “trying to be more aggressive and swing at good pitches.”.
Ruiz’s confidence had also been bolstered by the support of his teammates and coaches. Nationals outfielder Juan Soto had reportedly taken Ruiz under his wing and had been working with him on his hitting, while manager Dave Martinez had praised Ruiz’s work ethic and attitude.
Overall, it seemed that Ruiz’s growing confidence was having a positive effect on his performance on the field. While he still had room to improve both offensively and defensively, he was showing signs of the potential that had made him such a highly-regarded prospect in the first place.
Future Outlook
Keibert Ruiz’s future with the Washington Nationals looks bright. As a young and talented catcher, he has the potential to be a key player for the team for years to come.
While he still has room for improvement, particularly at the plate, there are several reasons to be optimistic about his future.
First and foremost, Ruiz’s defensive skills are already at a high level. He has shown good pitch-framing ability, strong arm strength, and a good rapport with the Nationals’ pitching staff.
As he gains more experience at the major league level, he should only get better in these areas.
Offensively, Ruiz has the potential to be a solid contributor as well. He has shown good plate discipline and the ability to make contact, although he will need to develop more power to become a true force at the plate.
If he can continue to work on his swing and refine his approach, there is reason to believe that he can become a well-rounded hitter in the major leagues.
In terms of his role on the Nationals, Ruiz figures to be a key part of the team’s future plans. While he may not see everyday playing time right away, he should continue to get opportunities to develop and showcase his skills.
Over time, he could become the team’s primary catcher, providing stability at a position that has been a weakness in recent years.
Overall, Keibert Ruiz’s future looks bright. He has already shown the potential to be a solid defensive catcher with good plate discipline, and he should only improve as he gains more experience.
If he can continue to refine his skills and develop more power at the plate, there is reason to believe that he could become one of the Nationals’ top players in the years to come.
Keibert Ruiz’s statistics in his early major league career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals:
| Season | Team | Games Played | Batting Average | On-Base Percentage | Home Runs | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | LAD | 3 | .000 | .250 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | WSH | 17 | .237 | .356 | 1 | 6 |
Note: These statistics are as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021 and may not reflect any developments since that time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of hitter is Keibert Ruiz?
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Ruiz was showing good plate discipline, with a .356 on-base percentage and a willingness to work deep counts. However, he was not yet a power hitter, with just one home run in his first 17 games with the Nationals.
How does Keibert Ruiz compare to other catching prospects in baseball?
Ruiz is widely regarded as one of the top catching prospects in baseball. In 2021, he was ranked as the #3 catching prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, behind only Adley Rutschman of the Orioles and Joey Bart of the Giants.
What are some areas where Keibert Ruiz could improve?
While Ruiz has shown good defensive skills and plate discipline, he will need to develop more power at the plate to become a true offensive force. Additionally, he will need to continue to refine his approach and adjust to major league pitching as he gains more experience.
What is the Nationals’ plan for Keibert Ruiz’s development?
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, it was unclear what the Nationals’ specific plan was for Ruiz’s development. However, it is likely that he will continue to see playing time as a catcher and will be given opportunities to refine his skills and develop at the major league level.
What is Keibert Ruiz’s contract situation?
As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Keibert Ruiz was still on his rookie contract and was not yet eligible for arbitration. He will likely remain under team control for several more years before becoming a free agent.
To Recap
Keibert Ruiz is a young and talented catcher who has already made an impact at the major league level. After making his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020, Ruiz was traded to the Washington Nationals in July 2021 as part of a blockbuster deal.
Since joining the Nationals, Ruiz has shown flashes of his potential both at the plate and behind it, and has gained confidence in his abilities as a catcher.
While he still has room for improvement, there are several reasons to be optimistic about Ruiz’s future. His defensive skills are already at a high level, and he has shown good plate discipline and the ability to make contact.
With more experience and further development, he has the potential to become a well-rounded hitter in the major leagues.
Ruiz figures to be a key part of the Nationals’ plans moving forward, providing stability at a position that has been a weakness in recent years. With his talent and potential, he has the opportunity to become one of the team’s top players in the years to come.
