NEW YORK — The Nationals’ top prospect is joining them in the bigs.
“We’re all excited about it,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s part of our future here.”
Ruiz was one of the headliners in the Nationals’ mega deal that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers on July 30. Coincidentally, he will catch starting right-hander Josiah Gray, with whom he was traded, in his first game in a Nats uniform. The 23-year-olds have worked together at the Dodgers’ alternate training site and in Triple-A.
“It’s really exciting,” said Gray. “Obviously, there’s a lot of good ballplayers here, but they invested a lot in me and Keibert so it’s going to be really fun. I’m sure tomorrow will be just that first glimpse of future things to come.”
Ruiz made his Major League debut with the Dodgers last season, appearing in two games, and he played in six more games with L.A. this season. This month, he has been mashing for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He connected for back-to-back two-homer contests this month, and he slashed .308/.365/.577 in 20 games. Ruiz also tallied 24 hits, six doubles, five home runs, 14 RBIs, seven walks and six strikeouts.
“We just want him to have good, consistent at-bats,” Martinez said. “And the biggest thing that we’ll talk about is, stay up the middle of the field and take his walks.”
Defensively, Ruiz will work with bullpen coach Henry Blanco on honing his game behind the plate at the big league level. The early plan is for Blanco to help with Ruiz’s release and foot quickness.
“He’s going to make sure that you’re on the same page,” Gray said of Ruiz’s game planning. “He’s going to be really thorough with the scouting report, he’s going to make sure that you’re getting your pitches where you need to get them. … He’s a really great catcher.”
The Nationals already have two catchers on their active roster, Tres Barrera and Riley Adams, who have been sharing starting duties. Martinez said there is a possibility the team could carry three catchers, and it will evaluate the roster following Sunday’s series finale against the Mets.