Ruf Named E.L. MVP and Rookie of the Year
(Portland, ME)--- Reading Phillies first baseman/outfielder Darin Ruf has been selected as the winner of the 2012 Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award and the 2012 Eastern League Rookie of the Year Award as announced by the Eastern League early Thursday night.
With his sweep of the awards, Ruf becomes just the third Reading Phillies player to do so following Marlon Byrd (2001) and Ryan Howard (2004). Ruf is the sixth R-Phils player to win the MVP award, joining Greg Luzinski (1970), Mark Davis (1980), Jeff Stone (1983), Byrd, and Howard. Along with Pat Burrell (1999), Byrd, Howard, Chris Roberson (2005), and Michael Taylor (2009), he also becomes the sixth player in team history to win Rookie of the Year.
Ruf is batting .320 (150-for-469) with 32 doubles, 37 home runs, 98 RBI, 91 runs scored, a .629 slugging percentage and a .412 on-base percentage in 135 games in his Double-A debut for the R-Phils this season while helping lead the team to second place in the Eastern Division with a record of 73-64. The 26-year old currently leads the Eastern League in home runs (37), RBI (98), extra-base hits (70), total bases (295), slugging percentage (.629), on-base percentage (.412) and OPS (1.041). He is also among the league leaders in games played (134-tied-1st), runs scored (91-tied 2nd), batting average (.320-2nd), walks (65-tied 3rd), hits (150-3rd) and doubles (32-tied 4th).
With his performance this season the 6'3", 220 lb. slugger has etched his named into the Reading record books, tying Ryan Howard's single-season record of 27 home runs set in 2004 and breaking Greg Luzinski's single-season record for total bases (287) that was set in 1970. He also was the first player in the team's 46-year history to notch 30 doubles and 30 home runs in a single season.
The pair of awards adds to the collection the slugger is racking up at the end of the 2012 campaign. On Wednesday, Ruf was named the recipient of the Paul Owens Award, presented to the best player in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system. Ruf also was named FirstEnergy Team MVP and Reading Eagle Big Stick Winner prior to Wednesday's game.
Ruf, who is a native of Omaha, Nebraska, was selected as the first baseman on the recently announced 2012 Eastern League All-Star Team. He was also named the Eastern League Player of the Week for the periods of May 7th-May 13th and August 13th-August 19th and was also the starting first baseman for the Eastern Division at the 2012 Baseballtown All-Star Classic and went 1-for-1 with a double, one RBI, one run scored and one walk.
Ruf, who is hitting .335 with 19 home runs, 31 RBI and 27 runs scored in 28 games during the month of August, was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round of the 2009 draft after he batted .331 (275-for-832) with 57 doubles, 27 home runs, 201 RBI and 159 runs scored in 227 games during four seasons at Creighton University. He was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year during his sophomore season when he hit .374 with eight home runs and 57 RBI in 61 games.
New Britain first baseman Chris Colabello finished as the runner up in the voting for the MVP award and Akron outfielder Thomas Neal finished in third place. In the Rookie of the Year voting, Bowie shortstop Manny Machado finished in second place and Portland outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., Erie third baseman and outfielder Nick Castellanos and Richmond starting pitcher Chris Heston tied for third place. Both awards were voted on by Eastern League team managers and media members.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring