Spring Training Q&A — Rio Ruiz
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — At the young age of 22, third baseman Rio Ruiz is already in the midst of his third Spring Training with the Atlanta Braves. Following a 2016 season in which he made both his Triple-A debut with Gwinnett and Major League debut with Atlanta, Ruiz is rated the Braves’ №23 prospect by MLB.com for 2017. Dave Lezotte of the G-Blog caught up with the Covina, Ca. native to talk about his accomplishments from a season ago and his mindset entering his sixth professional season.
Dave Lezotte: Since we last saw you in Gwinnett last September, you’ve gone on to make your Major League debut with the Atlanta Braves. How does it feel to have accomplished your dream at age 22?
Rio Ruiz: It’s a blessing. Everything luckily worked out, and I carried what I did during the year and took it to the big leagues. There’s nothing like going up to the big leagues and making your dream come true. That was obviously what I wanted to do last year and I was able to make it happen.
DL: Atlanta selected your contract from Gwinnett on September 17 following the team’s run in the Governors’ Cup Playoffs. Were you surprised to get the call?
RR: I was surprised, it was overwhelming for sure when Johnny Mo (G-Braves’ former manager and current hitting coach John Moses) called me and told me I was going. It just all happened so fast. I didn’t get any sleep at all whatsoever, I was just so excited. Tears were rolling down my eyes because I made my dream come true, I made my family’s dream come true. Everything was a blessing.
DL: After hitting just 10 triples in 543 career Minor League games, you tripled for your first Major League hit on September 28 vs. Philadelphia. What do you remember about that moment?
RR: I remember being more nervous standing at third base than actually seeing the ball in the air. The whole time in the air, I was just like “don’t catch it, don’t catch it.” I knew I got it good, I knew it had a chance to get in the gap, then I saw him (Phillies’ center fielder Odubel Herrera) kind of slowing down and I’m like “no, give me a break.” And then he dove and missed it. I was more nervous standing on third and seeing the crowd and how they reacted. My smile was ear-to-ear.
DL: You got to play for manager Brian Snitker at the beginning of the year in Gwinnett and at the end of the year in Atlanta. Is your relationship with him any different in the Majors as compared to the Minors?
RR: No different. Obviously it was different because it was the big leagues, but he remains the same guy, same man. Everybody respects him. He’s just a great person to be around, so much energy, so much positivity. He and I have that bond where he gave me my first Triple-A start and first big league start, so that’s really cool.
DL: As one of the youngest players in the International League last season, you put together an impressive Triple-A debut, hitting .271 with 10 home runs and a team-high 62 RBIs and posting a .974 fielding percentage at third base. What were some of the lessons you learned?
RR: Don’t be afraid to ask questions, don’t be afraid to get better. Don’t be afraid to start learning everything on the mental side of the game. Even when you’re young, you can still ask questions. My biggest thing last year was, going into camp, I wanted to ask questions. I had Kelly Johnson at third base, I had Gordon Beckham at third base. And Chipper Jones, yesterday we got to work and I felt like I asked more questions than I did field ground balls. I wasn’t afraid to ask questions. (Last year) I had Sean Kazmar Jr., Matt Tuiasosopo, a lot of veteran guys who have been around the league and have been around a lot of great players. I think that was the biggest thing for me to take a step forward to try to get better.
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DL: You played a vital role on a Gwinnett club that, despite going 65–78, won the International League South Division and advanced all the way to the Governors’ Cup Championship Series. What was it like being a part of that improbable run?
RR: I think we defied everybody’s expectations, but we reached our expectations. I think we were always positive, we always knew what we were capable of. Even though we had a losing record, our whole division had a losing record. We won our division with a losing record, but we won important games. We had good games when we needed them the most. Unfortunately we didn’t come out with a ring, but we defied a lot of people’s expectations. A lot of people didn’t expect us to even get to the playoffs, but we got there. We got to the Championship and had a good Championship Series. I think all-in-all, it was a pretty good year for the Gwinnett Braves.
DL: This Spring, you’re seeing an increase in playing time for the Braves. Has your focus changed for this Spring Training as compared to last year, especially now that you’ve played in the Majors?
RR: Still trying to make a team, plain and simple. I’ve got to go out there and try to make a team, and handle everything between the lines and everything will take care of itself. As long as I stick with the process and don’t get upset with myself when balls aren’t finding holes, as long as I know I’m taking good at-bats, making good swings, making my plays, everything will take care of itself.
DL: There have been some stories out this Spring about the work you’ve done in the off-season to get in better shape. Physically, are you where you want to be, or is that process ongoing?
RR: It’s a grind, it’s a long season, but I’m where I want to be. I feel strong, I feel quick, I feel agile. I feel like I got a lot of my athleticism back.
DL: What areas of your game are you most focused on improving in 2017?
RR: As long as I continue to try to improve every aspect of my game, I think everything will work out. The mental side of the game, as long as you’re mentally ready, I think you’re going to be ready once you step in the box, once you get on the field. Knowing certain situations. For example, on defense if guys are on the bases, if the ball is hit in a certain direction, knowing what I’m going to do with the ball. Stuff like that. Thinking ahead, putting plays in your head before they actually happen. That way you’re not in a rush, everything is slowed down and relaxed. I think that’s one of the bigger things I can take control of. In the box, not trying to do too much, just trying to keep it simple, put the barrel on the ball and let everything happen.
DL: This season, the Atlanta Braves’ Minor League system is rated №1 by MLB.com. What is it like being a part of a system with so much talent?
RR: It’s awesome. A lot of people hold us to a high standard, and I don’t think we’re going to let a lot of people down as far as the Minor League system goes. But the big league team is right up there as well, even if people are writing them off. I think they’re going to surprise a lot of people.
DL: Finally, you’ll be getting your own Gwinnett Braves Bobblehead on June 10 for “Super Hero Night.” Is that special for you?
RR: It’s my first one, so I think it’s going to be pretty cool to see, pretty cool to have that and be able to give it to my family. I’m really looking forward to seeing it.
Ruiz and the Atlanta Braves continue Spring Training at Champion Stadium in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. through March 29. The Gwinnett Braves open the 2017 season at Coolray Field on Thursday, April 6 with a 7:05 p.m. game vs. Durham.
