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Atlanta Braves Top 100 Prospect: #18 Rio Ruiz

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 2, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Rio Ruiz (81) pose for photo day at Wide World of Sports. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Rio Ruiz (81) pose for photo day at Wide World of Sports. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Braves Third Baseman Rio Ruiz

Who Is He?

Ruiz was the 4th round selection of the Houston Astros in 2012 out of high school in California. In his draft season, he played for the Astros Arizona Rookie League team and their Greeneville team in the Appalachian League. Combined between the levels, he hit .252/.336/.400 in 152 plate appearances with a 10.5% walk rate and 21.1% strikeout rate.

In 2013, the Astros sent him to their full season A-ball team in Quad Cities in the Midwest League. Over 472 plate appearances, he hit .260/.335/.430 with 12 home runs and 12 stolen bases along with a 10.6% walk rate and 19.5% strikeout rate.

The Astros then sent him to their high-A team in the hitter-friendly California League in 2014, and the 20 year-old’s numbers definitely popped. He hit .293/.387/.436 with 11 home runs and 37 doubles over 602 plate appearances to go along with a 13.6% walk rate and 15.1% strikeout rate. The Astros sent Ruiz to the Arizona Fall League, and he struggled in the league, though he continued to show solid plate discipline, hitting .187/.292/.227 over 89 plate appearances, but with a 13.5% walk rate and 19.1% strikeout rate.

Next: Ruiz's scouting report

The Braves acquired Ruiz in the trade that sent Evan Gattis to Houston, and they assigned him to AA Mississippi in spite of being one of the youngest players in the entire league. Ruiz had a rough season to start, hitting .179/.297/.216 on June 1st with 0 home runs, though his 13.8% walk rate and 17% strikeout rate looked much more in line with his typical season, and sure enough, he went on a tear in June that ended up leveling out his season numbers by year end. Specifically, he had a tremendous June and a tremendous August to push his season line to .233/.333/.324 with 5 home runs and 21 doubles over 489 plate appearances with a 12.9% walk rate and 19.2% strikeout rate.

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