4 years agoLos Angeles Dodgers catcher Kiebert Ruiz drew the start against the Mariners on Wednesday with manager Dave Roberts giving catcher Austin Barnes the day off. Barnes had started in seven of Dodgers’s last eight games with starter Will Smith (neck) on the IL, giving Ruiz a chance to get some major league reps. A consensus top-100 prospect, Ruiz boasts an impressive hit tool that fueled a near-.300 career minor league batting average and 9.5% strikeout rate. Ruiz has also shown flashes of impressive raw power, though it hasn’t translated to in-game performance given his career .121 ISO in the minor leagues. Still, Ruiz’s impressive contact skills should have him on the radar of fantasy players even if consistent major league playing time is out of reach for now.--Sam Chinitz
Source: ESPN