Speedster Ruiz looking to stick with A's out of camp
MESA, ARIZ. >> The A's haven't been a top-five team in stolen bases in more than a decade and they haven't led the league since Rickey Henderson's early years. An offseason addition could help bring speed and aggressive play back to the basepaths in the years to come.
Outfielder Esteury Ruiz led the minor leagues last season with 85 stolen bases and has made an impression on the A's in his first spring training with the team.
His speed and power attracted the eyes of the Athletics' front office, which acquired him in a three-team trade that sent catcher Sean Murphy to the Atlanta Braves. The Athletics received Ruiz, the Brewers' No. 8 ranked prospect, along with Atlanta pitching prospects Kyle Muller, Freddy Tarnok and Royber Salinas, and catcher Manny Piña.
“My first point is to try to get on base,” the 24-year-old Dominican said this week through a translator. “I know if I do that, we are going to have a good amount of stolen bases.”
In the 2022 season, Ruiz carried a .332 batting average with a .974 OPS and 145 hits. He drove in 65 RBIs and hit 16 home runs, playing the majority of his season at Triple-A.
“When you see his speed and the way his bat was developing last year, he took some great strides and has some sneaky power,” Oakland hitting coach Tommy Everidge said.
Last season was the first time since rookie ball in 2017 that Ruiz maintained an average over .255 or an on-base percentage over .330 — a threshold he smashed through in 2022, at .447.
But the question for this season remains: Will Ruiz's speed and power be enough to see him called up to the majors? In spring training, he has started in a handful of games for the A's alongside other outfielders, including J.J. Bleday, Cristian Pache and Connor Capel, all of whom are competing for spots.
Everidge said ultimately the decision is up to manager Mark Kotsay and the front office, but he has seen a lot of excitement and effort from Ruiz.
“He definitely brings something to the game that not too many people here have,” Everidge said.
That something is speed.