Fantasy News

• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Out again against righty

  Rotowire Apr 19, 2024

  Ruiz is not in the lineup for Friday's contest in Cleveland. In four games since being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, Ruiz has started once against a left-hander but has been on the bench all three times the Athletics have faced a righty. Ruiz's speed upside warrants him being held in deeper leagues in case he starts playing more, but Oakland doesn't seem to view him as an everyday player.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Second homer in three games

  Rotowire Apr 18, 2024

  Ruiz went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run, a stolen base and an additional run in a win over the Cardinals on Wednesday. Ruiz led off and went deep for the second time in three games, slugging a 412-foot shot to left center with Max Schuemann aboard in the third inning to open the scoring. The hot-hitting outfielder's recent power display is especially noteworthy, considering he belted only five homers across 490 plate appearances in 2023, and because he's been focused on improving his hard contact since spring training.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Homers in return

  Rotowire Apr 16, 2024

  Ruiz hit a solo home run in his lone plate appearance in a loss to the Cardinals on Monday. Ruiz was recalled from Triple-A prior to the contest and entered as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. He produced Oakland's only run of the game when he smashed a 406-foot solo shot off Cardinals reliever JoJo Romero. It was a bit baffling when the A's sent Ruiz to the minors April 1, as he had gone 3-for-7 with a stolen base over his first three games. He played well during his Triple-A stint, slashing .326/.423/.581 with seven thefts in eight tries and showed more than his usual amount of power with three long balls. He probably isn't going to suddenly become a home-run hitter, but that's fine with most fantasy managers who hung onto him during his demotion -- after Ruiz racked up an AL-leading 67 thefts as a rookie last year, he figures to be a difference-maker in that category (if given enough playing time) now that he's back in the big leagues.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Back in big leagues

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Ruiz was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Ruiz has been officially promoted after being spotted in the clubhouse earlier in the day. He's been performing well at Triple-A, hitting .326 with three homers, eight RBI and seven stolen bags in 11 games.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Makes impact out of top of order

  Rotowire Apr 1, 2024

  Ruiz went 2-for-4 with a triple, a stolen base and two runs in a win over the Guardians on Sunday. Ruiz started in only two installments of the season-opening four-game set against Cleveland, but he managed to make an impact in each of those contests. Sunday, he one-upped the 1-for-3, one-RBI effort he'd put together Friday, swatting his second extra-base hit of the campaign and pulling off one of his signature steals after setting a new AL rookie record with 67 stolen bases in 2023. Ruiz is technically stuck in a rotational role in the outfield for the time being, but he may certainly force manager Mark Kotsay's hand if his hot hitting persists.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Won't start Saturday

  Rotowire Mar 30, 2024

  Ruiz is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Guardians. Ruiz started in left field and was in the leadoff spot Friday. He finished the game going 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI sacrifice fly. Seth Brown pinch hit for Ruiz in the eighth inning, and the former will start in left field and bat fifth Saturday while JJ Bleday mans center field and bats third against Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Rips three-bagger Wednesday

  Rotowire Feb 29, 2024

  Ruiz went 1-for-3 with a triple and a run in the Athletics' Cactus League win over the Giants on Wednesday. Both of the usually light-hitting Ruiz's hits thus far this spring have been impactful, as he also belted a solo home run in the Cactus League opener against the Rockies. The fleet-footed outfielder, who recorded an AL rookie-record 67 steals in 2023, has been quiet in that department thus far this spring, but he should once again serve as a prolific source of stolen bases while looking to improve on the .254/.309/.345 slash line he produced last season.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Productive in shutout loss Sunday

  Rotowire Sep 25, 2023

  Ruiz went 2-for-4 with a double and two stolen bases in a loss to the Tigers on Sunday. The rookie outfielder collected his 64th and 65th steals of the season, extending his insurmountable AL lead over the Royals' Bobby Witt (48 steals) and bringing him within three of MLB frontrunner Ronald Acuna. Ruiz is creating plenty of opportunities to utilize his blazing speed on the basepaths of late, as he's now hitting .381 (8-for-21) with Sunday's double, a home run, four RBI, two walks, seven steals and three runs across his last eight games.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Swats fifth homer in win

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2023

  Ruiz went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and an additional run scored in Saturday's 4-1 victory over Detroit. The speedy 24-year-old took Joey Wentz deep for a two-run shot, giving Oakland a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Through 18 games in September, Ruiz is batting .318 with three home runs, eight RBI, six runs and 10 steals; much improved from the .173/.259/.288 slash line he posted across 22 games in August.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Swipes two bags

  Rotowire Sep 23, 2023

  Ruiz went 1-for-1 with two RBI and two stolen bases in Friday's 8-2 win over the Tigers. He didn't get the start but entered as a replacement for Tony Kemp (ankle) in left field. Ruiz made an impact with a two-run single in the seventh inning, then stole second and third. The speedster is up to 63 thefts this season, including 10 over 17 contests in September. He's swiped at least 10 bags in every month except July, which he missed most of due to a shoulder injury. The outfielder has added a .251/.305/.337 slash line with four home runs, 44 RBI and 44 runs scored through 124 contests.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Crosses 60-steal mark

  Rotowire Sep 19, 2023

  Ruiz went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases in Monday's 5-0 loss to the Mariners. Ruiz didn't start the game, but he entered as a pinch hitter and made some noise on the basepaths. The two steals gave him 61 on the year, the most by an American League player since Juan Pierre swiped 68 in 2010. Ruiz has notched eight thefts in September despite somewhat limited playing time. Over 121 contests this season, he's added a .250/.304/.338 slash line, four home runs, 42 RBI and 44 runs scored.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Taking seat Monday

  Rotowire Sep 4, 2023

  Ruiz is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. Ruiz's playing time has been sporadic over the last couple weeks, as he had started three of the previous four games prior to Monday but before that made only one start in a six-game stretch. His stolen-base upside keeps his fantasy value afloat, but his stock has nonetheless taken a hit with the lack of consistent at-bats.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Fills box score in win

  Rotowire Sep 2, 2023

  Ruiz went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, a stolen base, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 9-2 win over the Angels. Somewhat surprisingly, Ruiz came up a triple shy of the cycle, though he never had a chance at it after making outs in his first two at-bats. He's collected six hits over his last 11 at-bats while logging five steals in that span. The speedy outfielder is up to 54 thefts with three homers, 40 RBI, 42 runs scored, 22 doubles, a triple and a .251/.307/.338 slash line through 428 plate appearances. Ruiz has fallen into a timeshare in center field, and his brutal August slump has allowed Lawrence Butler to earn time against right-handers.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Swipes two more bags

  Rotowire Aug 31, 2023

  Ruiz went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored, an RBI and two stolen bases in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Mariners. Getting the start in left field and batting ninth, Ruiz continued to be a pest on the basepaths by swiping bags in the second and seventh innings, but he also got thrown out at the plate to end the latter frame -- a play that loomed large given the final score. Incredibly, Ruiz has more steals (10) than hits (nine) in August, slashing a woeful .173/.259/.288 on the month and seeing his playing time dwindle as Lawrence Butler takes over the starting center-field job for the A's.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Heads to bench Sunday

  Rotowire Aug 20, 2023

  Ruiz is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles. Ruiz will hit the bench for Oakland's second straight matchup with a right-handed pitcher (Kyle Bradish), ceding his spot in the outfield to Tony Kemp. The non-contending Athletics probably aren't ready to pull the plug on Ruiz as an everyday player just yet, but the rookie's downturn in playing time comes while he's struggled to get going at the dish since making his return from the a dislocated shoulder Aug. 5. In his first 12 games back from the injured list, Ruiz is slashing .167/.250/.306 with a 34.1 percent strikeout rate, though he's at least helped out fantasy managers with five stolen bases and a home run.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: On bench Friday

  Rotowire Aug 18, 2023

  Ruiz is not in the lineup Friday against the Orioles. Ruiz has recorded a double and a stolen base in each of his last two games, but he's slashing just .251/.304/.331 across 405 total major-league plate appearances this year, albeit with an AL-leading 48 steals. Tony Kemp, Lawrence Butler and Seth Brown are starting across the outfield for Oakland on Friday.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Records 47th steal Tuesday

  Rotowire Aug 16, 2023

  Ruiz went 1-for-2 with a double, a hit-by-pitch and a stolen base in a loss to the Cardinals on Tuesday. Ruiz hit out of the No. 9 spot in the order for only the second time since returning from the injured list on Aug. 5. The speedy outfielder was able to record an extra-base hit for a second straight game after clocking his second home run of the season Monday, and he also pulled off his seventh straight successful stolen-base attempt in the process. Despite the recent success, Ruiz is still carrying a .179/.207/.321 slash line and 33.3 percent strikeout rate across the 30 plate appearances he's logged over nine games since his return.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Belts second homer

  Rotowire Aug 15, 2023

  Ruiz went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a loss to the Cardinals on Monday. Ruiz hit what was an exceedingly rare homer -- only his second of the season -- leaving the yard with a 382-foot shot to left center in the fifth inning to temporarily knot the score at 1-1. The talented outfielder's calling card is naturally his speed, but the round tripper is an especially welcome sight considering Ruiz was mired in a 1-for-14 slump over the previous five games entering Monday.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Sits in second straight

  Rotowire Aug 13, 2023

  Ruiz isn't in Oakland's lineup Sunday against the Nationals. Ruiz is just 3-for-22 with three stolen bases since his return from the injured list Aug. 5, and he'll take a seat Sunday to regroup. Lawrence Butler will slide to center field to take Ruiz's place while Cody Thomas gets the nod in right.

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• Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Swipes two bags in win

  Rotowire Aug 10, 2023

  Ruiz went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two steals in Wednesday's 2-0 victory over the Rangers. Ruiz singled in his second at-bat before stealing both second and third base. He then came home on a sacrifice fly from Jonah Bride to give the Athletics their first run of the game. The center fielder has struggled at the dish since he returned from the injured list Aug. 5, batting just .188 with three stolen bases and only one run scored in 16 at-bats. He's also struck out six times during that stretch and twice in each of his last two games, while his last walk came back on July 1.

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