With poor outfielding skills and not much luck with the bat, Ruf will likely start the season in Triple-AKim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
At 26 years old and in Double-A Reading, Ruf was not the typical prospect. In fact, it wasn't until he mashed 20 home runs in the month of July alone, leading to the eventual passing of Ryan Howard's Reading HR record, that Ruf appeared on the Phillies' radar.
He received a September call-up and the team took notice. Then he played winter league ball in Venezuela and recorded eight doubles and 10 home runs in 120 at-bats.
Now in the major league spring camp, the team found themselves so enamored with Ruf's raw potential that they attempted to convert him into a left fielder so that he could make the team. That did not go over so well (.85 FPCT, 1.38 range factor) and now it seems almost certain Ruf will being the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Converting Ruf to a left fielder had a 50/50 shot of working so the fact that he has not yet been able to figure out the position is not disappointing.
What is disappointing however is that in the approximate same sample of at-bats in his major league debut season and the 2013 spring, that Ruf has failed to show the power and pop he was expected to produce.
Ruf has struggled with both the glove and bat this spring. He has gotten the chances to play everyday, but his bat has not stayed hot.
He has had a few notable games including on March 7 against Minnesota where he went 2-for-4, hit two doubles and recorded three RBI, but overall, Ruf's spring has been disappointing and certainly not the one he had hoped for being that he is competing for a major league job.
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