Chance Ruffin

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Chance Ruffin

| image =

| caption =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|9|8}}

| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = July 25

| debutyear = 2011

| debutteam = Detroit Tigers

|finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = September 28

| finalyear = 2013

| finalteam = Seattle Mariners

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 1–2

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 5.60

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 33

| teams =

Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|2011}})
Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2011}}, {{mlby|2013}})

}}

Chance Kraig Ruffin (born September 8, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball.

Professional career

=Detroit Tigers=

Ruffin was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round, with the 48th overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Texas at Austin. He made his professional debut in 2011, splitting time between the Double–A Erie SeaWolves and Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens. In 44 appearances between the two affiliates, Ruffin compiled a 2.03 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 19 saves.{{Cite web|title=Chance Ruffin Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/674343-chance-ruffin/|access-date=July 1, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

On July 25, 2011, Ruffin was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite web|last=Pouliot|first=Matthew|title=Tigers to call up 2010 supplemental first-round pick Chance Ruffin|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/24/tigers-to-call-up-2010-supplemental-first-round-pick-chance-ruffin/|work=NBCSports.com|publisher=Hardball Talk.com|accessdate=July 25, 2011|date=July 24, 2011}} In two appearances for Detroit, he allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts across {{fraction|3|2|3}} innings of work.

=Seattle Mariners=

On August 17, 2011, Ruffin was sent to the Seattle Mariners to complete an earlier trade for Doug Fister and David Pauley.{{cite web|last=Lowe|first=John|title=Tigers send Chance Ruffin to Mariners to complete trade|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20110817/SPORTS02/110817040/Tigers-send-Chance-Ruffin-Mariners-complete-trade |publisher=Freep.com|accessdate=August 17, 2011|author2=James Jahnke}} In 13 games down the stretch, he recorded a 3.86 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 14 innings pitched.

Ruffin spent the 2012 campaign on optional assignment with the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers. In 50 appearances out of the bullpen, he registered a 5.99 ERA with 54 strikeouts across {{fraction|70|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Chance Ruffin Player Card|url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/player/67103/chance-ruffin/|access-date=July 1, 2024|website=baseballprospectus.com|language=en}}

In 2013, Ruffin made 31 appearances (18 starts) split between Tacoma and the Double–A Jackson Generals, accumulating a 5–6 record and 3.91 ERA with 82 strikeouts across {{fraction|112|2|3}} innings. He also made nine appearances for Seattle, but struggled to an 8.38 ERA with 15 strikeouts.{{Cite web|title=Chance Ruffin - Baseball Stats|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/144657/|access-date=July 1, 2024|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}}

Ruffin was designated for assignment on December 18, 2013, after the signing of outfielder Franklin Gutierrez.[https://twitter.com/Mariners/status/413488134651772928 Twitter / Mariners: To make room on the #Mariners 40-man roster for Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Chance Ruffin has been designated for assignment.] He was not claimed on waivers, and was outrighted to the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers.{{cite web| url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/sea/mariners-chance-ruffin-outrighted-to-triple-a?ymd=20131223&content_id=66160522&vkey=news_sea| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131227182118/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/sea/mariners-chance-ruffin-outrighted-to-triple-a?ymd=20131223&content_id=66160522&vkey=news_sea| archive-date = 2013-12-27| title = Mariners' Chance Ruffin outrighted to Triple-A {{!}} Mariners.com: News}} He made 22 appearances for the affiliate in 2014, compiling a 3–3 record and 5.31 ERA with 50 strikeouts across 61 innings. Ruffin announced his retirement from professional baseball on July 4, 2014.{{Cite web|title=Mariners' Chance Ruffin voluntarily retires at age 25|url=https://fansided.com/2014/07/05/mariners-chance-ruffin-voluntarily-retires-age-25/|access-date=July 1, 2024|website=fansided.com|language=en}}

Personal life

His father Bruce Ruffin, played in the major leagues from 1987 to 1997.{{cite web|last=Kornacki|first=Steve|title=Tigers prospect Chance Ruffin named to Arizona Fall League All-Star squad|url=http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2010/11/tigers_prospect_chance_ruffin.html|publisher=MLive|accessdate=July 25, 2011|date=November 2, 2010}}