Norge Ruiz

{{Infobox MLB player

| name = Norge Ruiz

| team = Sultanes de Monterrey

| number =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|3|15}}

| birth_place = Camagüey, Cuba

| position = Pitcher

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = August 19

| debutyear = 2022

| debutteam = Oakland Athletics

| statyear = 2022 season

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 0–1

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 7.11

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 18

| teams =

Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2022}})

}}

Norge Luis Ruiz Loyola (born March 15, 1994) is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher for the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics.

Career

Ruiz was selected to play for the Cuba national baseball team at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games.[http://www.diariodecuba.com/deportes/1415228627_11147.html Yulieski Gourriel y Alfredo Despaigne lideran el equipo cubano que irá a los Juegos de Veracruz] Ruiz played in the Cuban National Series for Camagüey.[http://www.espndeportes.com/news/story?id=2016081 'Listo para cualquier béisbol'Norge Luis Ruiz aprobó la novatada] He won the Cuban National Series Rookie of the Year Award for 2012/2013. In May 2015, Ruiz left Cuba to pursue a contract with a Major League Baseball (MLB) organization.{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/22/cubas-best-pitching-prospect-is-on-his-way-to-america/|title=Cuba's best pitching prospect is on his way to America|last=Gleeman|first=Aaron|work=hardballtalk.nbcsports.com|date=May 22, 2015|accessdate=May 22, 2015}} Ruiz won with his national team, the gold medal of the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico.{{cite web|url=https://elnacional.com.do/hockey-de-rd-da-salto-cualitativo/|title=Hockey de RD da salto cualitativo|newspaper=El Nacional|language=Spanish|date=November 24, 2014|accessdate=November 28, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cubasi.cu/cubasi-noticias-cuba-mundo-ultima-hora/item/33887-veracruz-2014-cuba-campeon-del-beisbol-centroamericano|title=Veracruz 2014: Cuba, campeón del béisbol centroamericano|newspaper=Cubasi.cu|language=Spanish|date=November 22, 2014|accessdate=November 28, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.espndeportes.com/news/story/_/id/2236493/cuba-gana-medalla-de-oro-en-beisbol|title=Cuba gana medalla de oro en béisbol|newspaper=ESPN Deportes|location=Veracruz, Mexico|agency=EFE|language=Spanish|date=November 22, 2014|accessdate=November 28, 2014}}

=Oakland Athletics=

Ruiz signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics on December 23, 2016, that included a $2 million signing bonus.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/athletics-sign-norge-ruiz-cuba.html|title=Athletics Sign Cuban Right-Hander Norge Ruiz|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=December 23, 2016|accessdate=December 23, 2016}}

Ruiz made his professional debut in 2017 with the Dominican Summer League Athletics and was promoted to the Arizona League Athletics and Stockton Ports throughout the season. In 13 games started between the three teams he compiled a 5-2 record, 4.37 ERA, and a 1.32 WHIP.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/norge-ruiz-650204|title=Norge Ruiz Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 20, 2018}} Ruiz split the 2018 season between the Double–A Midland RockHounds and Triple–A Nashville Sounds, accumulating a 6–10 record and 4.89 ERA with 86 strikeouts across {{fraction|134|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Athletics' Norge Ruiz: Sent to minor-league camp|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/athletics-norge-ruiz-sent-to-minor-league-camp/|access-date=March 19, 2024|website=cbssports.com|date=March 4, 2019 |language=en}} Ruiz spent 2019 split between Midland and the Triple–A Las Vegas Aviators, pitching in 38 contests and struggling to a 2–5 record and 6.49 ERA with 54 strikeouts across {{fraction|69|1|3}} innings of work.{{Cite web|title=Norge Ruiz Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/6302-norge-ruiz/|access-date=March 19, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=March 27, 2018 |language=en}}

He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=March 19, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} Ruiz returned to action in 2021, but pitched in only eight games split between Midland, the High–A Lansing Lugnuts, and the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Athletics.{{Cite web|title=Norge Ruiz - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/norge-ruiz/19580/stats?position=P|access-date=March 19, 2024|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} He began the 2022 season with Triple–A Las Vegas, making 31 relief appearances and posting a 3.73 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 2 saves.{{Cite web|title=Norge Ruiz - Baseball Stats|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/209299/tranx/|access-date=March 19, 2024|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}}

On August 19, 2022, Ruiz was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|title=Athletics Select Norge Ruiz|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/athletics-select-norge-ruiz.html|access-date=March 19, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=August 19, 2022 |language=en}} He made 14 relief appearances for Oakland in his rookie campaign, logging a 7.11 ERA with 18 strikeouts across 19 innings. On November 3, Ruiz was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Las Vegas.{{Cite web|title=A's Claim Yonny Hernandez From Diamondbacks|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/as-claim-yonny-hernandez-from-diamondbacks.html|access-date=March 19, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 3, 2022 |language=en}} Ruiz spent the entirety of 2023 with Las Vegas, making 38 appearances and struggling to a 6.95 ERA with 32 strikeouts across {{fraction|45|1|3}} innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=March 19, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2023 |language=en}}

=Cleburne Railroaders=

On March 4, 2024, Ruiz signed with the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 4 de marzo de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-4-de-marzo-de-2024|access-date=March 5, 2024|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}} On April 10, 2024, Ruiz was released by the Conspiradores.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 10 de abril de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-10-de-abril-de-2024|access-date=April 23, 2024|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}}

On April 23, 2024, Ruiz signed with the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association of Professional Baseball. On May 7, Ruiz was released by the Railroaders without appearing in a game.{{Cite web|title= 2024 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/2024-transactions/|access-date=May 7, 2024|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}}

=Sultanes de Monterrey=

On February 17, 2025, Ruiz signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/beisbolpuro/status/1891629752907333823?s=46&t=UN5XGiNzRq3-vt33N7zCTw|title=x.com}}