Darin Ruf

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #9 prospect in 2013
  Signed for just $2,500 as a 20th-round pick in 2009, Ruf wasn't in the Phillies' future plans until he mashed 20 homers in August, the most since Sammy Sosa in 1998. He finished the year with a minor league-high 38 homers, smacked three during a September callup and added 10 more in the Venezuelan League. Ruf always has hit, batting .290 or better in each of his four pro seasons. Though he didn't break out until he turned 26, Philadelphia believes his home run binge is the result of maturing at the plate. He has plenty of raw strength and started tapping into it when he added loft to his swing and identified which pitches he can drive. He's a good fastball hitter, and he had success against soft stuff in his short stint in the big leagues. Ruf is a well below-average runner and a fringy defender at first base, his natural position. He started taking flyballs in left field last July and isn't pretty in the outfield, though he catches what he gets to. His arm is playable. He's blocked at first base by Ryan Howard, but the Phillies want to get his bat in their lineup. He could be their everyday left fielder in 2013, a scenario unimaginable in the middle of last season. At worst, he should be a power bat off the bench.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #17 prospect in 2013
  The powerfully-built Ruf muscled his way onto the Phillies? radar by bashing a minor league-leading 38 home runs at Double-A Reading in 2012. He didn?t make the big club out of spring training this year, though he filled in for the injured Ryan Howard at first base in July, then began to see time on the outfield corners later that month. Ruf?s plus power will play in the big leagues, though he may not hit more than .260 unless he can improve his reads on breaking balls and extend his plate coverage to the outer half. Likewise, he?ll need to improve his reads off the bat to be anything more than passable in the outfield. Ruf?s slow first step, below-average speed and slow release on throws make him a liability anywhere but first base. The Phillies think he can sharpen his instincts with more practice. ?This was a good level for him,? Brundage said. ?He wasn?t able to fly under the radar. Everyone knew he hit 38 homers (last year) . . . They weren?t going to give him cookies down the middle of the plate.?

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Signed for just $2,500 as a 20th-round pick in 2009, Ruf wasn't in the Phillies' future plans until he tied a professional record with 20 homers in August. He finished the year with a minor league-high 38 homers, smacked three during a September callup and added 10 more in the Venezuelan Winter League. Scouting Report: Ruf always has hit, batting .290 or better in each of his four pro seasons. Though he didn't break out until he turned 26, Philadelphia believes his home run binge is the result of maturing at the plate. He has plenty of raw strength and started tapping into it when he added loft to his swing and identified which pitches he can drive. He's a good fastball hitter, and he had success against soft stuff in his short stint in the big leagues. Ruf is a well below-average runner and a fringy defender at first base, his natural position. He started taking flyballs in left field last July and isn't pretty in the outfield, though he catches what he gets to. His arm is playable. The Future: He's blocked at first base by Ryan Howard, but the Phillies want to get his bat in their lineup. He could be their everyday left fielder in 2013, a scenario unimaginable in the middle of last season. At worst, he should be a power bat off the bench.