Keibert Ruiz

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Keibert Ruiz

|image = Nationals vs. Mets Opening Night - 52033385730 (cropped).jpg

|image_size =

|caption = Ruiz with the Washington Nationals in 2022

|team = Washington Nationals

|number = 20

|position = Catcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|7|20}}

|birth_place = Valencia, Venezuela

|bats = Switch

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 16

|debutyear = 2020

|debutteam = Los Angeles Dodgers

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 13, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .249

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 44

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 199

|teams =

Los Angeles Dodgers ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2021}})
Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2021}}–present)

|awards =

World Series Champion (2020)
Hit a home run in first major league at-bat (2020)

}}

Keibert Jose Ruiz (born July 20, 1998) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Career

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

Ruiz was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent in 2014 for $140,000.{{cite web|url=https://greatlakesloons.mlblogs.com/loons-eye-dodgers-top-30-prospects-76f6d7bf4f5d|title=Loons Eye Dodgers Top 30 Prospects|work=Great Lakes Loons|first=Brad|last=Tunney|date=March 20, 2017|access-date=August 23, 2017}} He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Dodgers in 2015 and spent the whole season there, batting .300 with one home run, 19 RBIs, and eight doubles in 44 games. He spent 2016 with both the Arizona League Dodgers and the Ogden Raptors where he posted a combined .374 batting average with two home runs, 48 RBIs, a .412 OBP and a .939 OPS in 56 total games between both teams. In 2017, he began the year with the Great Lakes Loons where he was selected to the Midwest League mid-season All-Star Team{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/all-star-game/2017/6/8/15766314/dustin-may-keibert-ruiz-midwest-league-all-stars-dodgers-great-lakes|title=Dustin May, Keibert Ruiz named to Midwest League All-Star team|first=Eric|last=Stephen|work=SB Nation|date=June 8, 2017|access-date=August 23, 2017}} and was then promoted to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/dodgers-catching-prospect-keibert-ruiz-shakes-up-california-league/c-242032470/t-185364810|title=Cal notes: Quakes' Ruiz shakes up South scene|work=milb.com|first=Josh|last=Jackson|date=July 17, 2017|access-date=August 23, 2017}} The Dodgers selected him as their Minor League Player of the Year for 2017{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2017/8/23/16194672/walker-buehler-keibert-ruiz-dodgers-minor-league-player-of-the-year-branch-rickey|title=Walker Buehler, Keibert Ruiz named Dodgers minor league players of the year|work=SB Nation|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=August 23, 2017|access-date=August 24, 2017}} after he hit .316 with eight home runs and 51 RBIs in 101 games between Great Lakes and Rancho Cucamonga.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ruiz--000kei|title=Keibert Ruiz Minor League Statistics & History|work=Baseball Reference}}

File:Keibert Ruiz (51276067294) (cropped).jpg]]

Ruiz was promoted to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers for the 2018 season and was selected to represent them at the mid-season Texas League All-Star Game.{{cite web|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/drillers/five-drillers-selected-for-texas-league-all-star-game/article_0cbc7997-4706-566e-bd64-ba9761b4db7f.html|title=Five Drillers selected for Texas League All-Star Game|work=Tulsa World|first=Barry|last=Lewis|date=June 13, 2018|access-date=June 17, 2018}} He was also selected to the "world" team at the All-Star Futures Game{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2018-futures-game-rosters-revealed/c-284471810|title=Futures Game rosters packed with prospects|work=mlb.com|first=Jim|last=Callis|date=July 6, 2018|access-date=July 7, 2016}} and to the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/2018-fall-stars-game-rosters-led-by-vlad-jr/c-299924802|title=Vlad Jr., Whitley highlight Fall Stars Game rosters|work=mlb.com|first=Jim|last=Callis|date=October 29, 2018|access-date=October 29, 2018}} In 101 games for Tulsa, he hit .268 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=660688#/career/R/hitting/2018/ALL|title=Keibert Ruiz Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=January 1, 2019}} The Dodgers added him to their 40-man roster after the 2018 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/dodgers-protect-star-prospect-from-rule-5/c-300996184|title=Prospect Ruiz among 5 added to 40-man roster|first=Ken|last=Gurnick|work=mlb.com|date=November 20, 2018|access-date=November 20, 2018}}

Ruiz began 2019 with Tulsa.{{cite web | last=Starkand | first=Daniel | title=Gavin Lux, Dustin May & Keibert Ruiz Headline Double-A Tulsa 2019 Opening Day Roster | website=Dodger Blue | date=April 4, 2019 | url=https://dodgerblue.com/gavin-lux-dustin-may-keibert-ruiz-headline-double-a-tulsa-2019-opening-day-roster/2019/04/04/ | access-date=December 11, 2024}} He was selected to the mid-season Texas League All-Star Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/tulsa/news/top-prospects-named-to-rosters-for-oneok-field-all-star-game/c-308074948|title=Top Prospects Named to Rosters for ONEOK Field All-Star Game|work=milb.com|author=Tulsa Drillers|date=June 13, 2019|access-date=June 15, 2019}} Ruiz was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers in July.{{cite web|url=https://www.dodgersnation.com/dodgers-news-top-prospect-keibert-ruiz-reportedly-promoted-to-aaa/2019/07/21/|title=Dodgers News: Top Prospect Keibert Ruiz Promoted to AAA|work=Dodgers Nation|first=Blake|last=Williams|date=July 21, 2019|access-date=August 6, 2019}} However, he suffered a broken finger in early August that ended his season prematurely.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2019-08-05/rich-hill-dodgers-bullpen-injury-playoffs|title=Dodgers' Rich Hill could be a bullpen option in the playoff|newspaper=LA Times|first=Jack|last=Harris|date=August 5, 2019|access-date=August 6, 2019}} Between the two levels, he hit .261 with six homers and 34 RBI in 85 games in 2019.

Ruiz was called up to the Majors for the first time on August 15, 2020{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2020/8/15/21370002/will-smith-injured-list-dodgers-roster-keibert-ruiz|title=Dodgers place Will Smith on injured list, recall Keibert Ruiz

|work=SB Nation|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=August 15, 2020|access-date=August 15, 2020}} and made his MLB debut the following day as the starting catcher against the Los Angeles Angels.{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2020/8/16/21371197/keibert-ruiz-mlb-los-angeles-dodgers-mlb-news|title=What to expect ahead of Keibert Ruiz's debut|work=SB Nation|first=Blake|last=Harris|date=August 16, 2020|access-date=August 16, 2020}} He hit a home run in his first at-bat, against Julio Teherán of the Angels.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/keibert-ruiz-homers-in-first-major-league-at-bat?game_pk=631364|title=Ruiz homers in 1st career AB, Dodgers sweep|work=MLB.com|first=Ken|last=Gurnick|date=August 16, 2020|access-date=August 16, 2020}} He appeared in only two games during the pandemic shortened 2020 season, with two hits in eight at-bats.{{Cite web |title=Keibert Ruiz Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ruizke01.shtml |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} Ruiz was on the Dodgers roster for the 2020 National League Wild Card Series but did not appear in a game. He was left off the roster for the 2020 National League Division Series.{{cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2020/10/06/dodgers-nlds-roster-gavin-lux-dylan-floro-in-edwin-rios-keibert-ruiz-out/|title=Dodgers' NLDS roster – Gavin Lux, Dylan Floro in; Edwin Rios, Keibert Ruiz out|work=Orange County Register|first=Bill|last=Plunkett|date=October 6, 2020|access-date=October 7, 2020}}

In 2021, Ruiz appeared in six games for the Dodgers, with one hit (a home run) in seven at-bats. With Oklahoma City, he hit .311 in 52 games with 16 homers and 45 RBI.

=Washington Nationals=

On July 30, 2021, the Dodgers traded Ruiz, Josiah Gray, Donovan Casey, and Gerardo Carrillo to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Trea Turner and Max Scherzer.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/news/max-scherzer-trade|title=Dodgers complete blockbuster for Max, Trea|work=mlb.com|first=Juan|last=Toribio|date=July 30, 2021|accessdate=July 30, 2021}} Ruiz homered in his debut as a member of the Nationals organization on August 3, 2021, for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings.{{cite tweet|number=1422743562739982337|user=MLBPipeline|title=In his first game as the @Nationals' No. 1 prospect following the trade from the Dodgers, Keibert Ruiz blasts off f… |date=August 4, 2021}} Ruiz was called back up to the Majors on August 30 and made his Nationals debut the same day, going 1-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies. He would finish the season with a .272/.333/.409 slash line with 3 home runs in 96 plate appearances at the MLB level with the Dodgers and the Nationals.

On March 11, 2023, the Nationals announced that Ruiz had signed an eight-year contract extension. The contract, reportedly worth $50 million, ran through 2030, covering his last five seasons of club control and first three years of free agency, and included one-year club options for 2031 and 2032.{{cite news |last=Camerato |first=Jessica |date=March 11, 2023 |title=Ruiz, Nationals Agree to Eight-Year Contract |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/keibert-ruiz-extension |work=MLB.com |access-date=March 11, 2023}}

Personal life

Ruiz is married to Ryena. The couple has one son named Keibert Jr., and as of May 2025 a baby girl.

{{cite web |title=Keibert Ruiz Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/keibert-ruiz-660688 |website=MLB.com |access-date=May 23, 2025 |language=en}} {{cite web |title=Their son is an MLB catcher. Years after his debut, they finally got to see him play|first=Spencer|last=Nusbaum|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/05/23/keibert-ruiz-parents-nationals/ |website=washingtonpost.com |date=May 23, 2025|access-date=May 24, 2025 |language=en}}

Until 2025, Ruiz's Venezuelan parents, Leidys and Jose, had not seen him play in a game since he was a teenager in the Dominican Summer League in 2015, and had never seen him play in a major league game. After four visa denials they were finally approved in 2025, and attended a Nationals game on May 22, 2025 in Washington, D.C.. Keibert went 2 for 5 in the game, including a double and two RBIs, and applied the game-saving tag at home plate in the top of the ninth inning as the Nationals walked off the Atlanta Braves to win their fifth straight. The game was doubly emotional because Jose Ruiz's sister had died in Venezuela on that same day.