Darin Ruf, Utility Player, Milwaukee Brewers

Date of Birth: 7/28/1986
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska
College: Creighton University

Darin Ruf, utility player for the Milwaukee Brewers, was a star player in high school and college before being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009. He played in the Phillies' minor league system from 2009 through part of 2014. During that time, he batted .295 with 607 hits, 165 doubles, 75 home runs, 343 RBIs, and 448 strikeouts to 231 walks in 573 games. In 2012, he hit 38 home runs in 139 games. Defensively, he played 353 games at first base with a .993 fielding percentage and 117 games in left field with a .978 fielding percentage.

Ruf first joined the Phillies in 2012, playing in 12 games with them. In 2013, he played in 73 games and he had a .247 batting average with 62 hits, 11 doubles, 14 home runs, and 30 RBIs. The following season, he spent most of his time on the DL, first with a strained oblique and then with a wrist fracture. He batted .235 with 24 hits in 52 games in 2014. Defensively, he played 59 games at first base, 1 game at third base, 41 games in left field, and 29 games in right field.

Ruf played in 106 games with the Phillies in 2015. He finished the season with 63 hits, 39 RBIs, and a .235 batting average. Defensively, as a first baseman, he made 27 assists, 47 double plays, 416 putouts, and 3 errors in 66 games.

Ruf spent most of the 2016 season in the minor leagues. He played in just 43 games with the Phillies and he batted .205 with 17 hits.

Ruf was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on November 11, 2016. He was released on February 18, 2017.

Ruf played in the Korean Baseball Organization from 2017 through 2019.

Ruf signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on January 31, 2020. He played in 40 games in 2020, and he finished the season with 24 hits and a .276 batting average. Defensively, he played 4 games at first base, 22 games in left field, and 3 games in right field. He was the Giants' DH in 8 games.

Ruf spent time on the IL in 2021 with a hamstring strain and an oblique strain. He finished the season with 71 hits, 13 doubles, 16 home runs, 43 RBIs, 87 strikeouts to 46 walks, and a .271 batting average in 117 games. In the postseason, he had 1 hit (a home run) and 2 RBIs in 11 at-bats in 3 games.

The Giants traded Ruf to the New York Mets on August 2, 2022.

The Mets released the Mets on April 2, 2023. He returned to the Giants on a minor league contract on April 8th. He elected free agency on May 13th. He then signed with the Brewers on May 15th.

Personal Life

Ruff and his wife Libby were married in December, 2011.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Darin Ruf
ESPN - Darin Ruf
Baseball Reference - Darin Ruf