We are in the midst of experiencing a Dodgers' catching renaissance. First, we saw Will Smith wow the fans. Now, it's Keibert Ruiz's turn. In his first career at-bat yesterday afternoon he smashed a home run. Per Rowan Kavner at Dodger Insider:
“It was very exciting,” Ruiz said after the Dodgers’ 8–3 win that swept the series in Anaheim. “First time being in the big leagues, I just was focused on getting a fastball and making contact. Happy to be here with all these guys and keep learning.”You can also watch him speak with the press after the game, via SportsNet LA on twitter. Below are more links to check out:
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 1982 the Dodgers and Cubs played a 17 inning game that was temporarily halted at a tie, 1-1, because of darkness (this was before Wrigley Field had lights). The next day they begin where they left off. The Dodgers would eventually win on a sacrifice fly by Dusty Baker in the 21st inning. In 1992 Dodgers hurler Kevin Gross no-hit the Giants at Dodger Stadium, 2-0. Watch the last out of the game, as called by Vin Scully, here. Per a NY Times article:
- Happy Birthday, George Harper, Doug McWeeny, Joe Bradshaw, Boog Powell, Brad Wellman, Jeff Fischer & Kyle Farmer!
- Wow! Per Sarah Langs at MLB.com -- "The wild stat that explains Betts' greatness: He's making contact on 99% of pitches in the strike zone this year."
"The later it got, the more the adrenaline started pumping," Gross said. "It was just a blur when that last out was made."
If Mookie Betts swings at a pitch in the strike zone this year, he's not going to miss. Really. He’s swung at 101 pitches in the zone thus far this season and missed on just one of those swings, a 99.0% contact rate in the zone that leads all players who've swung on at least 100 in-zone pitches.
- Nobody should be surprised. Via Brook Smith at Dodgers Nation -- "Frank McCourt is Ruining Another Sports Franchise."
- This mornings Baseball America Prospect Report makes note of both Graterol and Keibert Ruiz:
—Righthander Brusdar Graterol, the Dodgers’ No. 3 prospect, was at it again on Saturday. The fireballing reliever threw just two pitches below 99 mph in the seventh inning of his team’s win over the Angels: One was a 90 mph slider. The other was a fastball that clocked in at a mere 98 mph.—No. 4 prospect Keibert Ruiz could not have gotten his big league career off to a quicker start. Called up because of an injury to Will Smith, Ruiz swatted a home run to right field on the first swing of his first at-bat. Ruiz, 22, has long been lauded for his combination of offensive and defensive gifts, posted a .679 OPS primarily at Double-A Tulsa in 2019. He hit six home runs during the season, including two in just nine games after a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He missed a significant chunk of the season with a fractured finger.
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| (Pic via @Dodgers on twitter) |
- Via Bill Ladson at MLB.com -- "Negro Leagues centennial celebrated by MLB."
- Did you notice those patches on Sunday? Via Chris Creamer at SportsLogos.net -- "Baseball Players Celebrating Negro Leagues with Patch Sunday."
The logo, based off the Negro League Baseball Museum’s own 100th anniversary logo (designed free of charge by Adam Rolf of the Kansas City-based firm Global Prairie), includes the silhouette of a player who is not meant to represent one specific individual, though, according to Bob Kendrick, president of the NLBM, it draws heavily on the likeness of Hall of Famer Raleigh “Biz” Mackey.
- Former Dodger news. Per George Miller at MLB Trade Rumors -- "Cubs DFA Jharel Cotton, Place Tyler Chatwood On IL."
- Just too cute! Via the @Dodgers on twitter:
A special delivery from @Cody_Bellinger to his biggest fan. pic.twitter.com/afu2T6n3Re— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 17, 2020
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