The Athletics and Dodgers made what was a notable swap of Minor Leagues on April 2. Los Angeles acquired speedy outfielder Esteury Ruiz for a Minor League pitcher, getting additional depth and someone who, with his speed, could be very useful come September.
A Look at Ruiz
It’s not often one sees a league leader in a significant category get sent down the next season. However, that happened to Esteury Ruiz, who was demoted last season by the Athletics.
Ruiz was the AL leader in stolen bases (67) two years ago, in what was his rookie season. He was behind only Ronald Acuna Jr. in total stolen bases that season, one that saw him bat .254/.309/.345 (.654 OPS).
The Athletics flipped him back and forth between the top and bottom of the order in 2023. While Ruiz, acquired in the three-way deal that sent Sean Murphy to Atlanta and William Contreras to Milwaukee, has speed befitting of a prototypical leadoff man, he doesn’t have the on-base ability.
It’s largely why the Athletics sent him to Las Vegas (AAA) in 2024. The A’s had outfield depth, as JJ Bleday emerged as a legitimate center fielder and the team. He didn’t play much, though, thanks to a wrist problem that kept him on the IL for months in 2024.
Ruiz’s sprint speed (95th percentile in 2024) is the highlight of his skillset. He’s not a power hitter whatsoever. However, Ruiz did have three double-digit home run seasons in the Minors. Three years ago, Ruiz belted 16 home runs in a season in which he batted .332/.447/.526 (.973 OPS)
Defensively, he can play center or left field. Ruiz was originally an infielder but moved off before the MiLB shutdown in 2020.
The Dodgers assigned Ruiz to Oklahoma City (AAA) after the trade.
In return, the Dodgers gave up an interesting arm in Carlos Duran. Duran put up gaudy strikeout numbers in the Minors, including a 115-strikeout campaign in 2021. He had eight strikeouts over four frames to begin his 2025 season.
Duran, who’s currently in Triple-A, boasts a hard sinker that topped out at 97 MPH in his lone start in the Minors. It had varying movement during that start, though, sometimes acting like a carrying two-seamer, while other occassions more like a true sinker.
The right-hander seldomly uses a changeup, relying more on his slider and four-seamer as secondary options.
Analysis
Much like with these post-Opening Day moves, the players who find new homes aren’t exactly game-changing talents. Although, one could argue Ruiz’s speed is, in fact, game-changing.
Ruiz provides additional depth for a Dodgers team that has some depth to work with in Triple-A. The Comets’ current outfield troupe includes speedster Justin Dean, Eddie Rosario, Ryan Ward, and former NL Rookie of the Year finalist James Outman.
All of those outfielders are very different in terms of skillset, between the power of Rosario & Ward, a left-handed hitter in Outman, and two speedsters in Dean and Ruiz, with Ruiz being the more potent bat.
Ruiz, though, profiles as a bench bat or pinch runner with the Dodgers, a team with extensive depth on their MLB roster.
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