Right-hander José Ruiz bounced around the majors before finding a home with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2024, performing yeoman’s work out of the bullpen. Unfortunately, he followed that up with a tough season in 2025, and was cut loose in June.
Instead of embarking on an uphill climb to make a big league roster in 2026, Ruiz opted this week to ply his trade overseas, signing on with the Yokohama DeNA Baystars of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball for a fresh start.
Ruiz began his professional career back in 2011 as an international free agent signing of the San Diego Padres, and eventually ascended to the big leagues in 2017, appearing in one game for the club. The Chicago White Sox plucked him off waivers the following winter, and he toiled away on the South Side for five seasons, working to a 4.56 ERA across 177 appearances. A few months in Arizona capped off his 2023 season, and he was granted free agency at the end of that year.
José Ruiz signs in Japan after his successful 2024 for Phillies was mired by dreadful 2025
The Phillies scooped Ruiz up on a minor league pact in November of 2023, and after posting a sparkling 1.64 ERA in 10 Triple-A appearances, he made it back to the bigs in May. The Venezuelan looked like a revelation that season, posting a 3.71 ERA in 51 frames, punching out 52 batters and walking only 17. In an elite bullpen that featured All-Stars Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm, as well as trade deadline acquisition Carlos Estévez, Ruiz was never asked to close out high-leverage games, but soaked up meaningful innings in middle relief all year.
The Phillies entered 2025 with a diminished relief corps, as president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski allowed both Hoffman and Estévez to walk in free agency, choosing to bring in reclamation project Jordan Romano in their stead. Romano immediately faceplanted, fireballer Orion Kerkering took a step back, and presumptive closer José Alvarado was suspended 80 games for performance enhancing drugs.
With the bullpen unraveling in record time, Ruiz poured gasoline onto the fire, getting shelled for 16 earned runs in only 16 1/3 innings of work. The Phillies had seen enough, and he was designated for assignment in early June.
The division rival Atlanta Braves placed a waiver claim on Ruiz, but shipped him out to Texas after two ugly appearances. The 30-year-old got back on track with a 2.31 ERA over 20 games in Triple-A, but it wasn’t enough for him to earn a call up with the Rangers.
Now, the journeyman once again finds himself without a big league home, presumably only receiving minor league offers from interested clubs. Instead of embarking upon a 2026 campaign featuring lower pay and long bus rides, Ruiz has chosen to join Japan’s Baystars for $1.2 million, a team best known for a 2024 championship and employing lightning rod Trevor Bauer for the past three years.
While his MLB career may have stalled out for the moment, a fresh start in Japan provides a pathway back to the big leagues. Struggling American pitchers Miles Mikolas and Nick Martinez, among others, took a respite in Japan to hone their skills and reeled in millions when they returned stateside. Failed prospect Anthony Kay, a Baystar himself, secured $12 million from the White Sox earlier this week.
For an unheralded pickup with no expectations, Ruiz gave the Phillies an excellent season, more than anyone could have hoped for. This past year’s meltdown may have soured the ending, but it’s always good to see a career nomad earn some guaranteed money and a chance overseas. With any luck, he’ll come back better than ever after a successful stint in a baseball-crazed nation.