| Esteury Ruiz | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Ruiz with theFort Wayne TinCaps in 2018 | |
| Athletics – No. 1 | |
| Center fielder | |
| Born: (1999-02-15)February 15, 1999 (age 26) Azua, Dominican Republic | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 12, 2022, for the San Diego Padres | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .243 |
| Home runs | 7 |
| Runs batted in | 57 |
| Stolen bases | 73 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Esteury Ruiz Reyes (born February 15, 1999) is a Dominican professionalbaseballcenter fielder for theAthletics ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022 with theSan Diego Padres and also played for theMilwaukee Brewers. In 2023, he set the American League record forstolen bases in a rookie season with 67.[1]
Ruiz signed with theKansas City Royals as an international free agent on July 3, 2015.[2] He made his professional debut in 2016 with theDominican Summer League Royals and started 2017 with the rookie–levelArizona League Royals.
On July 24, 2017, the Royals traded Ruiz,Matt Strahm andTravis Wood to theSan Diego Padres in exchange forTrevor Cahill,Ryan Buchter andBrandon Maurer.[3][4] He began his Padres career with the rookie–levelArizona League Padres.[5] He played 2018 with the Single–AFort Wayne TinCaps and 2019 with the High–ALake Elsinore Storm. Ruiz did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[6]
Ruiz returned in 2021 to play for the Double–ASan Antonio Missions and returned there to start the 2022 season.[7] On July 12, 2022, the Padres selected Ruiz to the major league roster.[8] He made his major league debut that day as the starting center fielder against theColorado Rockies, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.[9]
On August 1, 2022, the Padres traded Ruiz,Taylor Rogers,Dinelson Lamet and prospectRobert Gasser to theMilwaukee Brewers forJosh Hader.[10] In 2022, he batted .332/.447/.526 in 437 at bats.[11] Ruiz led the minor leagues in stolen bases, with 85,[12] while being caught 14 times, and was third in the minor leagues in times hit by pitch with 27.
On December 12, 2022, theOakland Athletics acquired Ruiz from the Brewers in a three-team trade in which theAtlanta Braves acquiredSean Murphy, the Brewers acquiredWilliam Contreras,Joel Payamps, andJustin Yeager, and the Athletics also acquiredManny Piña,Kyle Muller,Freddy Tarnok, andRoyber Salinas.[13]
On March 25, 2023, managerMark Kotsay announced that Ruiz had made theOpening Day roster.[14] While playing against theNew York Yankees on June 28, Ruiz was the final out, grounding out toJosh Donaldson, inDomingo Germán's perfect game. In a July 5 game against theDetroit Tigers, Ruiz stole his 43rd base of the season in the 12–3 victory. In doing so, he set the A's rookie record for stolen bases in a season, surpassing the previous record of 42 set byMitchell Page in 1977.[15] On July 7, the A's placed Ruiz on the 10-day injured list with a shoulder injury. He was the MLB stolen base leader at the time of the injury.[16] In 132 games for Oakland, Ruiz hit .254/.309/.345 with 5 home runs, 47 RBI, and 67 stolen bases. His stolen base tally set a new AL rookie stolen base record, surpassingKenny Lofton's 66 steals from 1992.[17]
Ruiz was optioned to the Triple-ALas Vegas Aviators on April 1, 2024.[18][19] He was recalled on April 15 afterJ. D. Davis was placed on the injury list.[20] In 29 games for Oakland, Ruiz slashed .200/.270/.382 with two home runs, eight RBI, and five stolen bases. He was placed on the injured list with a strained left wrist.[21] Ruiz was transferred to the 60–day injured list on September 4, ending his season.[22]
Ruiz was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin the 2025 season.[23]