Dodgers: Keibert Ruiz Having a Red Hot May With the Drillers

The Dodgers farm system is stocked with multiple top prospects at the catcher position.  Their best one, Keibert Ruiz is heating up after a slow start.

Keibert Ruiz was one of the main reasons that the Dodgers decided not to acquire J.T. Realmuto.  The Marlins at one point asked for Cody Bellinger, and when talks got more serious they asked for Keibert Ruiz.  The Dodgers didn’t feel that was a good asking price as they view Ruiz as their potential catcher of the future.  Will Smith is the other top catching prospect who is closer to the majors.

Ruiz is currently posting a .275/.342/.336 slash line which is an improvement after his recent hot streak.  In the month of May, he is batting .316 with a stellar .409 on-base percentage.  He also has one home run and has struck out just twice in fifty-seven at-bats.  While the power has not shown yet, Keibert is showing impressive contact skills in an Alex Verdugo type manner.

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Over his last ten games, Ruiz is 14-38 which is good for a .368 batting average.  Defensively, Keibert has been good all season, committing just one error in 261 total chances with two passed balls.  As far as projections go, Keibert is viewed as a potential gold glover and his minor league showings have done nothing to damage that projection.

In April, Keibert got off to a slow start hitting just .243 with a measly .288 on-base percentage.  Even during his opening month struggle, Ruiz showed his ability to put the bat on the ball striking out just five times in 74 at-bats.  On the season, in 131 AB’s, the opposition has struck Keibert out just seven times.  While Will Smith and Keibert Ruiz are both above average catchers, the big difference is that Ruiz does not strike out a ton.

It will be interesting to watch how the rest of Ruiz’s season plays out, especially if he starts hitting for a little more power.  He maxed out at twelve home runs last season and slugged better in the lower levels of the minors despite not posting high home run totals.  Will Smith could get a call-up later in the season, but Ruiz is not expected to reach the majors until next season.