Dodgers Top Prospect Keibert Ruiz Set to Make MLB Debut in Anaheim

As the Dodgers go for the series sweep in Anaheim against the Angels of Anaheim, there will be a new face calling pitches behind the plate for Los Angeles. Top catching prospect Keibert Ruiz is set to make his big league debut on Sunday against Julio Teheran and the Angels.

Keibert Ruiz will be making his MLB debut tomorrow in Anaheim catching Dustin May. #Dodgers

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— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) August 16, 2020

Ruiz was added to the major league roster on Saturday after Will Smith hit the 10-day injured list with a neck issue. The 22-year-old Venezuelan born catcher signed with the Dodgers as an international free agent on July 20, 2014. He was rated the 73rd-best prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline entering 2020 and is third on the Dodgers top-prospects list according to MLB.

Through five seasons in the organization, the switch-hitting Ruiz has a combined .299 batting average with 29 homers and 199 RBI through five different levels. Last season, he split his time between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, batting a combined .261 with 6 homers and 34 RBI before a finger injury in August sidelined him for the rest of the year.

In his debut, he’ll be catching Dustin May, so there will be plenty of familiarity there as the two have been teammates at various stops throughout the minor leagues. May will be making his team-high fifth start of the season on Sunday. In four previous starts, the early Rookie of the Year candidate has a 1-1 record with a 2.75 ERA and 17/5 K/BB in 19.2 IP.

What’s Next

After the series in Anaheim, the Dodgers will welcome the Seattle Mariners to Dodger Stadium for two games before heading up north to Seattle for two games as part of the COVID season’s regional scheduling. 

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