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Get to know Atlanta Braves prospect and newest call-up Rio Ruiz

By Jeff Schafer

Mar 8, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Rio Ruiz (14) throws the ball to first base for an out during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Rio Ruiz (14) throws the ball to first base for an out during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 15, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Rio Ruiz (14) fields a high hopper to second base during MLB spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Rio Ruiz (14) fields a high hopper to second base during MLB spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Ruiz made his major league debut in 2016 for the Braves, now he’s back. What can he do in 2017 in ATL?

Player Profile

The Atlanta Braves acquired Rio Ruiz from the Houston Astros before the 2015 season.

The Astros drafted Ruiz out of high school in California in the 4th round in 2012. He was considered a talent that could have gone even earlier, but the Astros used some of the money they saved by drafting Carlos Correa to sign Ruiz.

He opened with the Astros Gulf Coast League team in 2012. He did work his way up to the advanced rookie Appalachian League before the season was over in 2012. Combined, he hit .252/.336/.400 with a single home run and 2 stolen bases along with a 10.53% walk rate and 21.05% strikeout rate.

Ruiz opened the 2013 season as a 19-year-old in full-season ball in the low-A Midwest League. He hit .260/.335/.430 with 12 home runs, 12 stolen bases, a 10.59% walk rate, and a 19.49% strikeout rate

Ruiz bumped up to the California League in 2014, where he hit well, going .293/.387/.436 with 11 home runs, 4 stolen bases, 13.62% walk rate, and 15.12% strikeout rate.

He was sent by the Astros to the Arizona Fall League, where he did struggle with contact, hitting .187/.292/.227 with a 13.48% walk rate and a 19.1% strikeout rate.

The Braves acquired Rio as part of the deal that sent Evan Gattis and reliever James Hoyt to Houston for Mike Foltynewicz, Ruiz, and Andrew Thurman.

Ruiz was assigned to AA Mississippi by the Braves in 2015, and he simply got attacked with bad luck in BABIP for the first two months of the season, as he had a .222 BABIP on June 1st.

From that point to the end of the season, Ruiz hit .259/.351/.374 the rest of the way. Overall, his line was .229/.331/.318 with 5 home runs, 2 stolen bases, a 13.02% walk rate, and a 19.21% strikeout rate.

The Braves promoted Ruiz to AAA Gwinnett in 2016, and he was one of the better hitters all season at the level, hitting .271/.355/.400 with 10 home runs and a steal, posting an 11.44% walk rate and 21.76% strikeout rate.

Ruiz earned a September call-up to the big leagues, and he hit .286/.286/.571 in 7 plate appearances over the month with a triple.

Next: Ruiz's scouting report

–All scouting reports are from Ben Chase. This is a repost to get to know our newest call-up–

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