Norge Ruiz

[Cory Engelhardt]

Darren Wolfson is reporting that the Twins will watch Cuban FA pitcher Norge Ruiz throw tonight in the Dominican League. Also watched him in exhibition last week.

(That is verbatim what Wolfson wrote on twitter. I am having trouble copy and pasting.)

 

Here is his writeup from mlb pipeline. He is the top available international free agent, and the #3 overall from this signing period...

 

RHP

Bats R

Throws R

Age 22, DOB: 3/15/1994

Ht 6'0" Weight 185 lb

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball 55, Slider 55, Change 50, Split 50, Control 60

 

Ruiz has been called a bulldog on the mound because of his tenacity and aggressive approach.

There's a belief that the right-handed pitcher is almost ready to pitch in the Major Leagues and could be pitching in the big leagues in some capacity by the end of 2016 or early 2017.

 

Here's why: Ruiz has a fastball that has been clocked at 94 mph and he often works in 90-92 mph range. He throws a "heavy fastball," and his repertoire also features a slider, a cut-fastball, a changeup and a split-fastball thrown at various arm angles. He's a groundball pitcher with the ability to change speeds and keep hitters off balance in the batter's box. He's not physically intimidating, but he knows how to pitch and evaluators like how he handles himself on the mound. That said, Ruiz's command has been described as "scattered at times."

 

Pitching coach Fausto "Chiqui" Mejia and former Major League pitcher Alberto Reyes worked with Ruiz in the Dominican Republic. The pitcher is represented by Octagon.

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

Ruiz has a fastball that has been clocked at 94 mph and he often works in 90-92 mph range. He throws a "heavy fastball," and his repertoire also features a slider, a cut-fastball, a changeup and a split-fastball thrown at various arm angles. He's a groundball pitcher with the ability to change speeds and keep hitters off balance in the batter's box. He's not physically intimidating, but he knows how to pitch and evaluators like how he handles himself on the mound. That said, Ruiz's command has been described as "scattered at times."

 

 

 

 

That sounds like Nick Blackburn's second coming.

[Cory Engelhardt]

That sounds like Nick Blackburn's second coming.

Agreed. Still, if he is that highly ranked, may as well be worth a shot. There isn't much online in the way of numbers for him since he has not played in the Cuban league since 2014. And it would be at least as much a chance of doing something than compared to most everyone on the free agent market

[Thrylos]

 

Agreed. Still, if he is that highly ranked, may as well be worth a shot. There isn't much online in the way of numbers for him since he has not played in the Cuban league since 2014. And it would be at least as much a chance of doing something than compared to most everyone on the free agent market

 

No way he is MLB-ready.  He is a prospect.  High A/AA level if a teams signs him.  He might take a year or two to develop. 

So no comparison to current MLB free agents

[Cory Engelhardt]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/international/jose-miguel-fernandez-norge-ruiz-play-winter-ball-dominican-republic/#ztWG3GWPBtUbC7s8.97

[Cory Engelhardt]

No way he is MLB-ready.  He is a prospect.  High A/AA level if a teams signs him.  He might take a year or two to develop. 

So no comparison to current MLB free agents

Yes, but that doesn't mean it is dumb to sign him

[Thrylos]

 

Yes, but that doesn't mean it is dumb to sign him

 

Depends on the price and expectations...

[Vanimal46]

If the Twins sign a Cuban FA, that will be the first time since who? Tony Oliva? I'll believe it when I see it.

[Mike Sixel]

Agree with vanimal. They have passed every time. All PR bull. Plus, the best players are gone already...

[jorgenswest]

Thanks for sharing the report and taking the time to add the details. I hope the immediate dismissal your words received won't discourage you from contributing in the future.

[Major League Ready]

 

We want them to turn over every rock, right?  Then, when we hear they are looking outside their normal practices, we should be encouraged.  I don't understand the propensity to complain when it is reported they are doing what we all hope they will do.

[Vanimal46]

Thanks for sharing the report and taking the time to add the details. I hope the immediate dismissal your words received won't discourage you from contributing in the future.

I hope the original poster doesn't take offense to the discouragement from me. I'm glad he or she shared the news.

 

Just a bit skeptical about Wolfson's report and the Twins interest. Considering it's been over 60 years since a Cuban player has been signed by this organization.

[TheLeviathan]

One of my highest hopes with new leadership is that we will be open to participating on this front.

[Cory Engelhardt]

Thanks for sharing the report and taking the time to add the details. I hope the immediate dismissal your words received won't discourage you from contributing in the future.

I didn't feel dismissed at all. If someone does or doesn't like the look of a player has nothing to do with me sharing a story someone else wrote. I appreciate that the twins are at least looking at players, of which they haven't signed a player from Cuba in forever. They may sign him, they may not. He may be a cy young winner (doubt it) or he may never get past AA (who knows) but I certainly don't feel dismissed because someone has an opinion on a story that I simply shared and had no doing in writing whatsoever.

Aren't we all here because we have opinions anyway? That is what is fun about this site, talking about baseball 24/7

[The Wise One]

An equally comparable pitcher would be available in a later round. Spending more than 500,000 on the upside of a back of the rotation pitcher is not spending well.

[The Wise One]

That sounds like Nick Blackburn's second coming.

Justin Masterson. In honor of the incoming person in charge, I picked a Cleveland pitcher

[Cory Engelhardt]

In his first game last night, Ruiz went 4 1/3, giving up 5 hits, 3 runs (all earned) with 1 bb and 4 k's. He threw 26 of his 30 pitches for strikes. He took the loss for his team, Aguilas Cibaenas.

Here is the link to the box score. I recognize a few other names for both teams.

http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2016_10_21_aguwin_gigwin_1&t=g_box&sid=l131

[Platoon]

While it's true sarcasm sometime reigns supreme on these pages, mine included, it is the interweb after all. And the Twins have most of it coming. The story line is familiar to all. Gonna watch him, very interested, doing our do diligence, etc, etc, etc. followed by: "well, we were right into it until the very end". To me, the sarcasm is harmless, warranted, and entertaining. It's not our responsibility to discontinue looking at each front office move with skepticism, it's the new FO's responsibility, in the future, to make said skepticism unwarranted and petty. We ain't to that point yet!

[diehardtwinsfan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but given his age, he's subject to international signing rules instead of being a true free agent.  This should mute his price a bit. Not sure where the Twins stand in terms of bonus pool money (I think they still have some), so honestly, I'm of the opinion that they spend the money. I don't care if the upside is a 3 starter.  Those are valuable... and I'd note that occasionally upside projections can be wrong.  I'm never going to fault the team for adding talent.  As such, I'm on board with this.

[USAFChief]

An equally comparable pitcher would be available in a later round. Spending more than 500,000 on the upside of a back of the rotation pitcher is not spending well.

Huh?

 

$500K in MLB 2016 is basically walking around money. It's virtually not a factor.

[Seth Stohs]

If the Twins didn't sign pitchers who throw 94 (and site 90-92), they wouldn't sign like 90% of pitchers who get signed to pro contracts. All depends on how good those pitches are, the secondary ones too and makeup and a whole bunch of other factors. Can't just look at velocity.

[notoriousgod71]

Deduno!!!!!

[notoriousgod71]

 

Deduno!!!!!

 

Also odd to see names like Tony Pena, Jr. and Ramon Ramirez (assuming that he's the former Boston/SF pitcher).

 

You would think they would have to be just as good as 60% of the slop in the big leagues now.

[Shane Wahl]

 

Darren Wolfson is reporting that the Twins will watch Cuban FA pitcher Norge Ruiz throw tonight in the Dominican League. Also watched him in exhibition last week.

(That is verbatim what Wolfson wrote on twitter. I am having trouble copy and pasting.)

 

Here is his writeup from mlb pipeline. He is the top available international free agent, and the #3 overall from this signing period...

 

RHP

Bats R

Throws R

Age 22, DOB: 3/15/1994

Ht 6'0" Weight 185 lb

 

Scouting Grades: Fastball 55, Slider 55, Change 50, Split 50, Control 60

 

Ruiz has been called a bulldog on the mound because of his tenacity and aggressive approach.

There's a belief that the right-handed pitcher is almost ready to pitch in the Major Leagues and could be pitching in the big leagues in some capacity by the end of 2016 or early 2017.

 

Here's why: Ruiz has a fastball that has been clocked at 94 mph and he often works in 90-92 mph range. He throws a "heavy fastball," and his repertoire also features a slider, a cut-fastball, a changeup and a split-fastball thrown at various arm angles. He's a groundball pitcher with the ability to change speeds and keep hitters off balance in the batter's box. He's not physically intimidating, but he knows how to pitch and evaluators like how he handles himself on the mound. That said, Ruiz's command has been described as "scattered at times."

 

Pitching coach Fausto "Chiqui" Mejia and former Major League pitcher Alberto Reyes worked with Ruiz in the Dominican Republic. The pitcher is represented by Octagon.

 

He might start out right away in Fort Myers, but I would bet he could move quickly. This would likely really be for 2018, so it would just depend on cost. 

 

[HitInAPinch]

From the link enge0280 posted:   "Major League Baseball still has not cleared him to sign." 

So, there is that.

 

From the description of what and how he throws, sounds a little like Luis Tiant.  Minus the corkscrew windup   
 

[The Wise One]

 

Huh?

$500K in MLB 2016 is basically walking around money. It's virtually not a factor.

Have you seen what signing bonuses?  http://m.mlb.com/news/article/183906680/2016-draft-signing-and-bonus-tracker/  since you did not bother to look at\ what players get signed for when drafted.

[ScottyB]

 

If the Twins sign a Cuban FA, that will be the first time since who? Tony Oliva? I'll believe it when I see it.

 

How about Kendrys Morales in 2014?

[jimmer]

 

How about Kendrys Morales in 2014?

yeah, I think you know what he meant :-)

[USAFChief]

Have you seen what signing bonuses? http://m.mlb.com/news/article/183906680/2016-draft-signing-and-bonus-tracker/ since you did not bother to look at\ what players get signed for when drafted.

What does any of that have to do with Norge Ruiz?

[twinssporto]

 

We want them to turn over every rock, right?  Then, when we hear they are looking outside their normal practices, we should be encouraged.  I don't understand the propensity to complain when it is reported they are doing what we all hope they will do.

Great point.  Remember what Epstein and the Chicago Cubs front office have emblazzened on their conference room wall:  Find Pitching.

 

Some of the best ones come from unlikely places.  Twins found a good one in the rule 5 draft...Santana