Atlanta Braves should reconsider repurposing Rio Ruiz.

In January 2015 the Atlanta Braves traded Kyle Kubitza Anaheim. A week later they traded for Rio Ruiz. In February 2018 Ruiz faces his last shot at becoming the Braves third baseman.

In retrospect the two trades were formulated  to essentially add another year’s control over a potential third baseman.

Kyle Kubitza didn’t capitalize on his chances to start for the Atlanta Braves and would be come a minor league free agent after the 2015  season. Rather than simply let him walk away they swapped him for Ricardo Sanchez and Nate Hyatt hoping one of them would provide some future value.

The Braves decided to swap Evan Gattis for prospects and when the Astros expressed interest the Braves asked for Ruiz. At that time Ruiz played in A+ ball and looked like a player on the rise who was blocked in Houston by  Alex Bregman.

After his move to the Braves, his path to the majors now clear. All Ruiz had to do was earn the job.

Retrospective Rio

A fourth round pick by Houston in 2012, Ruiz had to earn his job every year. He successfully did in the Astros’ system from 2012 through 2014 posting solid numbers with wRC+ finishes of 115 in 2013 and 119 in 2014.

His home run total stayed in the teens but he exceeded 30 doubles each year suggestion better things lay ahead. The Braves assigned him to AA Mississippi and whether because of the promotion to AA or simply joining a new team, for the first time as a professional he didn’t hit well.

Ruiz’ home run output shrunk to five and his doubles output dropped from the low 30s to 21. Given another more time to adjust, he might have corrected himself in AA but that was not to be.

The Braves added him to the 40 man roster to protect him from the Rule Five draft but instead of  leaving him in AA, they assigned him to AAA Gwinnett.