Phillies Call-Up Darin Ruf, Two Minor Leaguers as Rosters Expand
While J.P. Crawford and Nick Williams are still in Lehigh Valley, the Phillies are calling-up multiple players as the September roster expansion begins
No big-name prospects are coming to Philadelphia just yet, but some interesting names are on their way as we speak. Darin Ruf and Colton Murray will return to Philadelphia, while Patrick Schuster makes his Phillies debut.
OF-1B Darin Ruf, LHP Patrick Schuster, RHP Colton Murray promoted to #Phillies for Friday's game. RHP Jimmy Cordero headed to @IronPigs
— Tom Housenick (@TomHousenick) September 1, 2016
Ruf has long been a bit of a disappointment for fans after he hit 38 home runs in Reading. He started the season in the big leagues, but his production could not keep him out of the minors.
In parts of five seasons, Ruf has appeared in 274 games for the Phillies. He’s hit 32 home runs with 90 RBIs, but has 223 career strikeouts and a .238 batting average.
In 94 games with Lehigh Valley this season, Ruf has hit 20 home runs with an impressive .294 batting average. A large portion of his games with the Iron Pigs have come in left field.
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Ruf will get looks at first, left, and right field, as the Phillies give him what might be his last chance. I would not be surprised to see Ruf fall off the Phillies 40-man roster this winter and be eligible for the Rule 5 Draft.
Patrick Schuster made his major league debut with the Oakland Athletics this season after bouncing between multiple minor league systems. He pitched in five games out of the bullpen, giving up eight runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings. Nothing impressive, but the Phillies are not fighting for a playoff spot and are giving the 25-year-old a chance.
Schuster has a career minor league ERA of 3.98, and held his ERA under 2.00 while with Lehigh Valley.
Colton Murray has bounced between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley over the past two seasons. In just over 30 career innings out of the bullpen, Murray has posted 27 strikeouts, but given up 16 runs.
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With Lehigh Valley this season, Murray has a 2.95 ERA in 36.2 innings of work. He’s struck out 36 batters, walked 15, and given up two home runs.
Should the team bring up any big name prospects such as Jorge Alfaro or Nick Williams, it won’t be until after their post-season runs in the minors are over.