WASHINGTON NATIONALS TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. KEIBERT RUIZ, C
AGE: 23. B-T: B-R. HT: 6-0. WT: 225. SIGNED: Venezuela, 2014. SIGNED BY: Francisco Cartaya/Pedro Avila (Dodgers).
TRACK RECORD: Ruiz signed with the Dodgers for $140,000 at the age of 16 in 2014 out of the Venezuelan academy run by former big leaguer Carlos Guillen. At the time, he was considered more of a defensive catcher, but that’s not the case now. Ruiz’s star really began to rise when he reached Double-A at age 19 in 2018. A return to Double-A the next season due to a logjam at catcher in the Dodgers’ organization slowed his progress, but a promotion to Triple-A later that year seemed to get him going again, at least until he was sidelined with a fractured finger. Formerly the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect, Ruiz immediately became the top prospect for the Nationals upon being traded to Washington as part of the massive deal that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to Los Angeles at the 2021 trade deadline. After getting a cup of coffee in the big leagues in 2020, Ruiz saw more regular playing time down the stretch with the Nationals in 2021 and responded by showing the offensive prowess that has the organization excited about his potential.
A switch-hitter, Ruiz has long had a knack for making contact, but up until recently he had faced questions about his ability to impact the baseball. Adjustments made with the Dodgers, including getting more upright in his stance and keeping his hands closer to his body, have helped him make higher-quality contact, a trend that carried over
