2035.18 Venezuelan Speed Demon Arrives to Save Franchise
Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 3:30 pm
TAMARINDO, PUERTO RICO - In the midst of all the turmoil surrounding the Boise Spuds' organization, a potential international superstar-in-the-making arrived quietly at the team's secluded international complex in Puerto Rico.
Much like the Flash in the DC Comics Universe, 16-year-old Venezuelan center fielder Ricardo Ruiz appeared seemingly out of thin air, a product of one of the team's international scouting trips. Ruiz hails from Maracaibo, a city of about 1.5 million that is nicknamed "The Beloved Land the Sun".
Scouts love Ruiz for his once-in-a-generation speed on the diamond, coupled with elite outfield range and a flame-throwing arm. If he reaches his potential at the plate, Ruiz projects to be one of the game's very best hitters, with top-notch contact, gap power and avoid Ks ratings. He's known to be very popular in the clubhouses he's been in, and many of the players who have played with him describe him as a leader.
Instantly, Ruiz was ranked as the 30th best prospect in the entire league in the newest Baseball America prospect ranking, and boosted the overall health of the Spuds' farm, as they climbed to 11th overall. Time will tell if Ruiz will reach his potential, but the addition of Ruiz for essentially nothing bodes well for a young Spuds organization with lofty ambitions for the future.
Sources close to team leadership say the team will likely keep Ruiz in the international complex until his eighteenth birthday, which will fall in August of 2036, to maximize their years of team control over the speedy outfielder. From there, they believe Ruiz will make quick work of the minors and get the callup to Boise within a couple years.
Much like the Flash in the DC Comics Universe, 16-year-old Venezuelan center fielder Ricardo Ruiz appeared seemingly out of thin air, a product of one of the team's international scouting trips. Ruiz hails from Maracaibo, a city of about 1.5 million that is nicknamed "The Beloved Land the Sun".
Scouts love Ruiz for his once-in-a-generation speed on the diamond, coupled with elite outfield range and a flame-throwing arm. If he reaches his potential at the plate, Ruiz projects to be one of the game's very best hitters, with top-notch contact, gap power and avoid Ks ratings. He's known to be very popular in the clubhouses he's been in, and many of the players who have played with him describe him as a leader.
Instantly, Ruiz was ranked as the 30th best prospect in the entire league in the newest Baseball America prospect ranking, and boosted the overall health of the Spuds' farm, as they climbed to 11th overall. Time will tell if Ruiz will reach his potential, but the addition of Ruiz for essentially nothing bodes well for a young Spuds organization with lofty ambitions for the future.
Sources close to team leadership say the team will likely keep Ruiz in the international complex until his eighteenth birthday, which will fall in August of 2036, to maximize their years of team control over the speedy outfielder. From there, they believe Ruiz will make quick work of the minors and get the callup to Boise within a couple years.