darin ruf | CSN Philly

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The inevitable happened this week, with the Samsung Lions of South Korea's KBO announcing they've acquired his contract from the Dodgers. According to Jee-ho Yoo of Korea's Yonhap News Agency , Ruf will make $1.1 million this season. It's a much better opportunity for him in terms of playing time and finances than he would have found with the Dodgers. Seeking salary relief, the Dodgers acquired Ruf and Darnell Sweeney from the Phillies this offseason for Howie Kendrick. Ruf, now 30, is a .240/.314/.433 career hitter in the majors with 35 home runs in 833 plate appearances. He'll join the Lions on Saturday. Tags: corey seidman , darin ruf , Los Angeles Dodgers , MLB , Philadelphia Phillies Tickets Schedule Standings Stats In-Game Live Roster Video Pulse Comcast SportsNet Golf Channel Rotoworld 2nd-longest tenured Phillie Darin Ruf gets new chance with Dodgers 2nd-longest tenured Phillie Darin Ruf gets new chance with Dodgers By Corey Seidman | CSNPhilly.com November 12, 2016 2:30 PM The Phillies ' clubhouse has experienced significant change the last few years, so much so that Freddy Galvis is the longest tenured player. Prior to Friday's trade for Howie Kendrick , Darin Ruf had the second-most seniority. Ruf, who debuted in September 2012 after hitting .317 with 38 homers that year at Double A, is headed to L.A. The Dodgers wanted to get rid of Kendrick's $10 million salary, but they also liked the idea of Ruf's right-handed pop. The Dodgers had interest in Ruf at the 2016 trade deadline, GM Farhan Zaidi told the L.A. Times . They had the majors' worst production last season against left-handed pitching (.213 BA, .622 OPS), and Ruf's strength has been his work against lefties. In 318 career plate appearances against lefties, Ruf has hit .299/.379/.542 with 17 homers and 77 strikeouts. In 515 plate appearances against righties, he's hit just .206/.274/.369 with 18 HR and 152 K's. Ruf could play a role with the Dodgers, but in order to stick he'll need to hit in spring training and do something he hasn't done before: produce off the bench. Lifetime, Ruf is 10 for 75 (.133) as a pinch-hitter with three homers, one walk and 28 strikeouts. That's the role he'll need to fill because the Dodgers are set at first base and have as many as six other players on the active roster who could play left field. Ruf never found a groove with the Phillies the way Tommy Joseph did this season. Ruf started 70 games in 2013 and 62 in 2015, but the combination of inconsistent playing time and the failure to seize opportunity resulted in his falling down the organizational depth chart. In his five years here, he showed flashes — 14 HR in 293 PA in 2013, similar output two seasons later — but also struck out a lot, never hit as high as .250, and was below average defensively. But that raw power will give him another chance to make an impression. "I'm happy for Darin that there’s a new opportunity for him," Phillies GM Matt Klentak said Friday. "Hopefully he’ll be able to turn the page and get a fresh start with the Dodgers." Ruf was a pro during his time here who appreciated the Phillies more than he questioned them about his role. Couldn't have been easy to be asked dozens of times a year, once every few weeks whether he thought he'd have been better with more playing time. Tags: corey seidman , darin ruf , Howie Kendrick , Philadelphia Phillies Tickets Schedule Standings Stats In-Game Live Roster Video Pulse Comcast SportsNet Golf Channel Rotoworld Phillies acquire Howie Kendrick from Dodgers for Ruf, Sweeney Phillies acquire Howie Kendrick from Dodgers for Ruf, Sweeney By Corey Seidman | CSNPhilly.com November 11, 2016 4:29 PM The Phillies have found one of the veteran bats Pete Mackanin called for in 2016, acquiring 2B/LF Howie Kendrick from the Dodgers in exchange for 1B Darin Ruf and utilityman Darnell Sweeney. Mackanin said several times last season that he wanted the Phillies to add a veteran, professional hitter to lengthen the lineup and take pressure off some of their young players. Kendrick, 33, fits that description. He's a .289 career hitter who can play multiple positions and bat second or sixth. He's never been a big home run hitter — his career high was 18 in 2011, his lone All-Star season — but should be capable of hitting 12 to 15 playing half his games at Citizens Bank Park. "There may not be a more professional hitter than Howie Kendrick. He’s the definition of a professional hitter," GM Matt Klentak said Friday. "He’s been steady his entire career. He’s one of the hardest working guys in the league and he can hit anywhere in the lineup and be productive. Pete and I have spoken over the past several months. This is the type of player that we really wanted to add to our lineup. I think Howie is going to have a legitimate impact on our young group." Kendrick is a second baseman by trade, but he played 94 games in left field for the Dodgers in 2016. With the Phillies, he could play either spot, manning second base if Cesar Hernandez is traded or playing left field if Hernandez stays. "With the caveat that things could change as the offseason progresses, the plan right now is that Howie Kendrick will be our everyday leftfielder," Klentak said. "But for a young roster, especially with us likely to add many young players to our 40-man roster, having a player on the 25-man who has the ability to play left field, first base, second base, third base, really does provide Pete with a lot of flexibility from a game to game basis. And that’s something just in terms of general roster management is going to be very important to us this year. And Howie Kendrick can play all of those positions. The versatility that the brings to our team is a huge benefit." Kendrick had a down year in 2016, hitting .255/.326/.366 as the Dodgers moved him all over the diamond. Coming to a hitter-friendly ballpark and playing a more stable role, Kendrick is a good candidate to bounce back in his contract year. "A lot of the underlying more advanced statistics would suggest he got a bit unlucky last year," Klentak said. "He’s still very good at squaring up the baseball and making solid contact. I think the fact that we will commit regular playing time to him will allow him to be more comfortable from game to game." Kendrick will earn $10 million in 2017, the final year of his deal. He wanted out of L.A. and the Dodgers wanted to clear up some payroll space to try to re-sign third baseman Justin Turner, closer Kenley Jansen and starting pitcher Rich Hill. The Phillies gave up little in this trade, parting with only Ruf and Sweeney, two non-prospects who didn't have much of a future here. The Phillies' getting anything of value for either player is a win. Kendrick was a highly thought-of infielder as he progressed through the Angels' system, armed with a sweet right-handed swing and a solid glove. From 2007 to 2015, he hit .290 or better six times. He instantly becomes the Phillie most likely to approach .300 in 2017, which says something about his consistency over 11 big-league seasons and the Phils' lack of offense. The Phillies finished last in the majors in runs scored in 2016 and second-to-last in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, so even though Kendrick is 33 and likely a short-term fit, his bat will be welcomed. Sweeney, 25, was acquired by the Phillies from the Dodgers in August 2015 for Chase Utley. He struggled in the majors at the end of 2015 and at Triple A in 2016. Ruf, now 30, was never able to find his footing with the Phillies. Rarely did he receive regular playing time, but he also didn't do much to earn an everyday job the way that, say, Tommy Joseph did this past season. Ruf ends his Phillies career with a .240/.314/.433 batting line, 35 homers and 96 RBIs in 833 plate appearances. In L.A., he has a chance to latch on as a right-handed bench bat, although he's long struggled as a pinch-hitter. "I think we all were hopeful that that the 2016 season would have been different for Darin," Klentak said. "Really after the first month after he was sent down he put up a pretty typical Darin Ruf year where he demonstrated power and hit left-handed pitching. He’s still a good hitter. Sometimes you have to give something to get something. I’m happy for Darin that there’s a new opportunity for him. Hopefully he’ll be able to turn the page and get a fresh start with the Dodgers." Tags: corey seidman , darin ruf , darnell sweeney , Howie Kendrick , Los Angeles Dodgers , MLB , pete mackanin , Philadelphia Phillies Load more Former Phillie Darin Ruf signs with Samsung Lions in South Korea 2nd-longest tenured Phillie Darin Ruf gets new chance with Dodgers Phillies acquire Howie Kendrick from Dodgers for Ruf, Sweeney Phillies' Darin Ruf could be facing quiet goodbye Jeremy Hellickson's woes against Mets continue in 10-5 loss Darin Ruf surprised by call-up; Mackanin says Ryan Howard will play 'more than he thinks' Tonight's lineup: After all that drama, Ryan Howard is starting anyway Phillies call up Darin Ruf and 2 relievers, activate Andres Blanco from DL FOLLOW US Facebook Twitter Google Plus Instagram ©2017 Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, L.P. 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