Ruiz was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.
Ruiz has seen his playing time completely disappear across the last week, failing to draw a start in seven consecutive games. He has 23 total plate appearances in the majors this season and is hitting .190/.261/.333 with a 34.8 percent strikeout rate.
Ruiz went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Brewers.
The 26-year-old drew the start in left field and slugged his first long ball since April 17, 2024, when with the Athletics, with a 413-foot blast off Milwaukee starter Jose Quintana in the fifth. Ruiz was promoted from Triple-A Oklahoma City on July 3 after slashing .292/.394/.458 with eight homers and 38 stolen bases across 300 plate appearances. The Los Angeles outfielder has been used strictly in a short-side platoon role in the big leagues, posting a .250 (4-for-16) average with six strikeouts in 12 games since his promotion.
He is being called up to replace Max Muncy (knee) on the active roster, though Ruiz provides depth in the outfield. Ruiz remains an exceptional stolen-base threat, as he racked up 38 swiped bags across 66 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City. However, his career .297 on-base percentage in the majors will limit his opportunities, and he also isn't likely to get regular playing time.
The Dodgers are expected to recall Ruiz from Triple-A Oklahoma City, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Max Muncy is set to undergo an MRI on his left knee Thursday, and Ruiz's arrival suggests the former is headed to the 10-day injured list. Ruiz was acquired via trade just after Opening Day and has slashed .292/.394/.458 with eight home runs and 38 stolen bases over 66 games with Oklahoma City. The 26-year-old can be an impact fantasy player with his speed if he gets regular playing time, but regular at-bats with the Dodgers seem unlikely.
The Dodgers acquired Ruiz from the Athletics on Wednesday in exchange for right-hander Carlos Duran, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Ruiz has two minor-league options left and will report to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 26-year-old has blazing speed that helped him steal 67 bases in the majors in 2023, but he's managed a career .243/.297/.343 batting line over parts of three big-league seasons and has also struggled defensively. The Dodgers will see if they're able to get more out of Ruiz than the Athletics were able to.
The Athletics designated Ruiz for assignment Sunday.
The 26-year-old was the Athletics' main return piece in the trade that sent catcher Sean Murphy (ribs) to Atlanta in 2022, but the outfielder is no longer on the 40-man roster. Ruiz stole 67 bases as a rookie in 2023 but had an underwhelming .254/.309/.345 slash line in 132 games, and he played in just 29 big-league contests last season. Ruiz will remain at Triple-A Las Vegas if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
The Athletics optioned Ruiz to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday.
Ruiz once looked to be one of the more intriguing prospects in the Athletics system after he was acquired from the Brewers in December 2022. Though he led the American League with 67 steals in 2023, Ruiz slashed just .254/.309/.345 over his first full season in the big leagues and seems to have since been passed up by other outfielders on the organizational depth chart. He spent most of the 2024 season either on the injured list or stuck in a bench role with the Athletics, and Ruiz will now have to head to Triple-A to begin the 2025 campaign due to the logjam in the big-league outfield.
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Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Unlikely to win roster spot
Rotowire
Ruiz is hitting just .130 (3-for-23) with one walk and no stolen bases in 12 games this spring. He appears unlikely to win a roster spot, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Ruiz is healthy after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in late September. He played just 45 games between the knee injury and a left wrist strain. He'll likely need revive his career for awhile at Triple-A before getting another chance in the big leagues.
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Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Playing in spring opener
Rotowire
Ruiz (knee/wrist) is starting in left field and batting sixth in the Athletics' first game of spring training Saturday versus San Diego.
Ruiz ended last season on the 60-day IL due to a left wrist strain, and he also underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in late September. The speedy outfielder appears to have recovered from both issues during the offseason and will look to get back on track in 2025 after playing in only 45 combined contests between the majors and minors last year. Ruiz may need to have a strong camp in order to make the Athletics' Opening Day roster.
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