Colorado Rockies: Rio Ruiz learns, builds for future with franchise

Rio Ruiz made an immediate impact for the Colorado Rockies when he was promoted from Triple-A.

Now in his second stint with the parent club, Ruiz continues to contribute with only seven games remaining in Colorado’s 2021 season.

“So far, so good,” Ruiz said in evaluating his performance in his time thus far with the Rockies. “I am just going to look to finish strongly these next two weeks and take advantage of every opportunity I get from here on out.”

The Colorado Rockies acquired Rio Ruiz from the Baltimore Orioles earlier this season.

Rio Ruiz was obtained by the Colorado Rockies via waivers from Baltimore on May 24 after being designated for assignment by the Orioles six days earlier.

After being acquired, Ruiz was sent to the Rockies’ Triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque where he compiled an 18-game hitting streak and batted .314 in 46 games with the Isotopes.

That earned Ruiz his first call up to Colorado on July 27. Wasting no time, he made his debut for the Rox that night in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels.

He responded with his first base hit for the organization with a pinch-hit single in the seventh inning.

After being sent to Albuquerque a second time, Ruiz was recalled on Aug. 23 for his second time and has remained with the parent club.

He notched his first multi-hit game for the Rockies going 2-for-3 on Sept. 7 against San Francisco in a game at Coors Field.

Ruiz credits his teammates in purple for helping to improve his game and allowing him to get comfortable with the Rox.

“Just learning from different people’s routines and seeing what people do and learn from them,” he said. “You never stop learning in this game so that is something I will definitely walk away with from this year with the Rockies.”

“It has been a great group of guys to be around,” he added. “They keep it light. We look forward to competing every single day so that is definitely something to look forward to—coming to the field every day.”

While Ruiz is hitless in seven official at-bats in three starts thus far with the Rockies, he has been called on often and produced as a pinch-hitter or reserve. In that dual role, he is 6-for-25 at the plate (.240) with one double, three runs batted in, one walk, and seven strikeouts.

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black has been impressed with what he has seen from Ruiz, who batted .167 in 32 games with the Orioles to start the 2021 campaign.

“He has had some good at-bats for us, some pinch hits,” Black told media in a pre-game press conference during the team’s recent homestand with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I know his starts have been infrequent but he has handled his playing time like a pro. He comes to work every day. He is a great kid. He is good to have on the team. New to the organization earlier this year when he got let go by Baltimore. I pull for a guy like Rio. I really do.”

Ruiz went hitless in a pair of pinch-hitting appearances in the first two games of Colorado’s current home series with San Francisco. He is batting .188 (6 for 32) with one hit going for a double since coming to the Rockies while having seen action in 27 games. He has driven in four runs.

He relishes the role of spoiler that Colorado could play in its current three-game home series against San Francisco, who is battling the Dodgers for the National League West title.

“It definitely will, especially if we win these few (games) against the Giants,” he said. “We just like to win every single game. If it happens, great. We just need to continue to play the kind of ball we have been playing recently and I think everything will take care of itself.”

Ruiz looks forward to the final days of the 2021 season as he prepares for the future.

“Just to continue to build,” he said. “Just continue to build off of everything I have learned this year.”