Darin Ruf Update Available If You Even Care Anymore

Phillies savior Darin Ruf has not been doing much savioring at the minor league level.

With double A Reading, he did make this terrific catch, but the offensive side of his game – the bigger one – is now hurting.

Domonic Brown is doing all he can to take the heat off Ruf, but pretty soon, greedy Phillies fans will want to see that other slugger up here.  Of course, these are those who don’t follow the minor leagues and simply presume he’s down there swatting dingers and checking his watch.

March 19, 2013; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Domonic Brown (9) and left fielder Darin Ruf (18) works out prior to the game against the New York Yankees at Bright House Networks Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The truth is, Ruf’s 2013 has been far from pretty.  There will be Eastern League Triple Crown chase this time, though all hope is not lost.  It’s still early in Reading, too, and Ruf could turn things around.  As a slugger, he is naturally prone to this sort of downward slide, hopefully to be counteracted by a salvo of power hitting.

In April, Ruf hit .264 for Lehigh Valley with an .822 OPS.  His Spring Training stats (.246/.784) weren’t mind blowing.  There’s not much about bringing him up and relying on him to supplement a tiny offense that makes sense.

He remains an option, but one that has to be better for the Phillies to go for it.