Does anybody have a reasonable excuse why Ruggiano never was awarded the chance to play when he was called up? I know he started 2 games, but that was it for the next 10 days he was here. Now, Natan Haynes and Gabe Gross have been given a ton more chance than Ruggs, yet they haven’t produced squat. Ruggs is a very talented prospect who has done everything the right way. He’s proven he can play on the field, yet Maddon won’t play him. Maddon claims it is bc he likes to play match-ups(lefty vs righty...visa versa...)but Ruggiano hit close to .300 against RHP last season( so that theory has a hole in it). With the stats he has put up in the Minors- had he been a 1st rd pick of this team- he would be the starting RF with a brand new 7 year extension.

I don’t know if Ruggiano will ever become a “great” or even “good” MLB player, but he at the least deserves the chance to prove he belongs.

AAA #’s this year 11G .357AVG 1HR 6SB 10RBI 2 2B .458OBP .999OPS

Career Minor League Numbers

406 G .306AVG 55HR 248RBI 70SB .396OBP .903OPS

He’s likely just the victim of being a bit younger than Haynes/Gross and thus they’re getting the current slots for backup outfielder.

If he continues to produce at AAA, he’ll likely be called up in event Haynes can’t cut it at ML level and/or he’ll be included in a trade when the DRays send one of their current crop of Starting pitchers to another team in exchange for a frontline leadoff hitter (2B or RF)

A closer look at his minor league career to date also shows a somewhat startling lack of defensive skills.

He had one game with DRays this season where he just utterly lost two drives to right field that fell for extra bases.

May be that at best he’s qualified to play 1B or DH and at the moment, DRays don’t have much need there.