6:25 pm: The Twins have announced the deal. It’s a one-year, $750K guarantee that contains $250K in possible incentives (h/t to Dan Kurtz of MyKBO.net).
5:34 pm: Ruiz and the LG Twins are in agreement on a deal, tweets Jon Heyman of the MLB Network.
8:18 am: Third baseman Rio Ruiz is close to joining the LG Twins of Korea Baseball Organization, reports Daniel Kim. He’ll become teammates with former big leaguers Casey Kelly and Adam Plutko, also signed by the Twins this month.
Ruiz, 28 in May, was drafted by the Astros out of Bishop Amat Memorial High School in the fourth round back in 2012. The club won him over with a well-above slot $1.85MM bonus to forgo a USC commitment. That high school’s claim to fame is producing longtime Rangers star Michael Young. Ruiz was considered a 55 grade prospect after being drafted, with Baseball America drawing a comparison to Eric Chavez on the optimistic side.
Coming up in the minors, it was thought that Ruiz would challenge Colin Moran as the Astros’ third baseman of the future. Instead, he was shipped to the Braves along with Mike Foltynewicz and Andrew Thurman for Evan Gattis in January 2015 as part of that club’s sell-off. Ruiz made his MLB debut with the Braves by way of a 2016 September call-up.
Ruiz failed to take off with the Braves, eventually becoming Mike Elias’ first 40-man roster addition as GM of the Orioles in December 2018 via a waiver claim. The move was fitting, as Elias had served as the Astros’ director of amateur scouting when Ruiz was chosen. It was 2019 in Baltimore when Ruiz got his most extensive big league look, as he served as the club’s primary third baseman. Ruiz managed only a 79 wRC+ despite often sitting against lefties.
This spring, Ruiz took up second base in an attempt to increase his versatility. By May, the Orioles designated him for assignment. The Rockies claimed Ruiz off waivers, eventually removing him from their 40-man roster in October.
so Ramos is out then.
He was out last year when he got hurt. I guess they could have resigned him, but maybe he’s still hurting…
The Braves really didn’t get nearly enough for Gattis. I didn’t know that was their return but El Oso Blanco was at least a power hitting MLB regular who was fun to watch. It looks like every player they got for him went bust. I know they were in a rebuild but wasn’t Gattis pretty cheap back then? You should never let a cheap, productive MLB regular go without some real return. I could see it if he were on some expensive contract making it a salary dump but that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Could have been a option for the teams that miss on signing Kris Bryant.
His name is Rio and he dances on the sand…
This could be a good opportunity for Rio Ruiz. He just hasn’t ever really put it all together but had a decent 2019-2020 for the Orioles till coming up way short in 2021. I was at one time exited when the Braves acquired this guy but he never panned out and was eventually released. Hopefully he gets his career back on track in the KBO.
Interestingly; pointing out that Ruiz would be teammates with Casey Kelly and Adam Plutko would actually be the second time with both playes. Ruiz and Kelly were both on the 2016 Braves, while Ruiz and Plutko were teammates in Baltimore last season
What I thought was interesting is that means there are three players from MLB on one team. I thought the KBO had the same rule as in Japan, limiting each roster to no more than two MLB players.
You can have 3 but only 2 can be pitchers.
Maybe they changed the rule when they realized neither our country nor our baseball league would be getting their respective $h*t straight anytime soon. Good time to steal away some additional MLB talent or fringe MLB talent.
Been a while for the 3 international player rule now
They must like his defense because his offense is lackluster
A tad lower than lackluster
It’s not starting quality, but acceptable as a bench guy.
Rio doesn’t go to Rio, he goes to Seoul.