Dodgers: A Positive COVID Test Kept Keibert Ruiz Out of Summer Camp
By now, Dodgers fans have likely gotten to know Keibert Ruiz over the last couple of days. The highest-ranked catching prospect in the farm system made a name for himself this past Sunday when he homered in his first at-bat.
But the average Dodgers fan might not know that Ruiz has been highly regarded in the system for quite some time. It was never a question if he would arrive in the big leagues, but rather when.
Keibert was signed as an international free agent by the Dodgers in 2014 at just 16 years old. He quickly worked his way up through the farm system and into the top prospect rankings in all of MLB. And finally, 6 years after Los Angeles scooped him up, Keibert made his big league debut.
But that debut did not come without a few uphill battles. The most recent one to plague Keibert was a positive COVID-19 test, limiting his availability early in Summer Camp. He revealed that to Dodgers media on Tuesday afternoon.
Keibert Ruiz confirms he was late to summer camp because he was COVID positive. He was sick for about 7 days. #Dodgers
He lost his sense of taste, had a headache and fever for a few days. Says "I'm good now."
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) August 18, 2020
Ruiz was one of the unlucky people who had to experience the symptoms of COVID-19. He said tht he had lost his sense of smell and taste and that he had a lingering headache to go along with a fever. But more importantly, Ruiz also noted that he is feeling fine and ready to play for the Dodgers.
Keibert got the start on Sunday afternoon with Dustin May throwing for the Dodgers. Tony Gonsolin gets the start tonight, another guy that Ruiz has caught in the minor leagues.
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Ruiz is kind of like Urias in that he’s been a “comer” for so long it’s actually worked against him because you wonder why it has taken him so long to finally arrive. Plus something obviously happened in the last couple of years for the Dodgers to focus more on Smith. Ruiz has actually been in the trade discussions the past couple of years. It just goes to show that you can’t have too many catchers in the pipeline because finding someone who can catch, hit, frame and manage these days is really, really rare. Ruiz will go back down when Smith comes back, but he certainly deserves a longer look.
JUST IN:
AUSTIN BARNES IS HITTING 304!!!
This not a joke or a dream. He stole a base today too. Mookie Betts seems to be responsible for this transformation. Is it too much to call this a miracle? With Bellinger and Muncy both hitting about 170, Barnes could be batting higher than both of them put together in the next few days.
Ruiz’s first at bat home run was awesome. But the transformation of Austin Barnes is miraculous …if he can maintain it. Suddenly the Dodgers only glaring weakness, the catcher position, is starting to look like a strength. Keep your fingers crossed.
Everyone knows Mookie is a great player. But now he’s a hitting instructor too. Someday a manager?