Traded by the Atlanta Braves, outfielder Esteury Ruiz landed in Oakland with many wondering what type of impact he would make. No one expected much of him heading into 2023, as with the other players on the roster. But, positive news came out of the spring in regards to him and his play. His speed stood out the most, showing he could be a dependable outfielder who can track down balls with ease. The amount of playing time became clear when the team traded center fielder Cristian Pache to the Phillies before the regular season started.

On Opening Day, we all saw (including me in-person) why the A’s believed in Ruiz.

What a start to his Oakland career.

2023 Review

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Esteury Ruiz #1 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates after hitting a walk-off single in the bottom of the twelfth inning at RingCentral Coliseum on May 16, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Ruiz played in 132 games for the A’s in 2023. It was clear he wasn’t a power hitter, only giving the team five home runs to his name. But, his 114 hits and 67 stolen bases will make many fans like myself forget about his lack of power.

Every game, it seemed like Ruiz had a stolen base. His speed struck fear into opposing pitchers, who had to account for him every time he was on base. No wonder he set the American League record for stolen bases in a season.

His .254 batting average led the team, and his three home runs in September show there is potential in terms of becoming a better hitter for the Athletics.

Defensively, you would think his speed would make him one of the best players in the outfield. Incorrect. His arm isn’t the best in the league, and was one of the worst outfielders in defensive runs saved (-20). Improvement is definitely needed in 2024.

2024 Outlook

MESA, AZ – FEBRUARY 24: Esteury Ruiz (1) and Seth Brown (15) of the Oakland A’s warm up before the first inning of the Colorado Rockiess’ 5-1 Spring Training win at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona on Saturday, February 24, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

With the A’s looking forward to another rebuilding year in 2024, Ruiz should receive plenty of playing time to refine his game and become a better player compared to 2023.

This spring, he has refined his mechanics at the plate. It has resulted in better exit velocity and plate appearances during games, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com.

Manager Mark Kotsay is optimistic about the improvement carrying over into the regular season, noting Ruiz’s “bat path looks better” and adding the outfielder’s head position now appears to be consistently correct after his helmet frequently fell off during at-bats in 2023.

CBS Sports on Esteury Ruiz’s improving skills during Spring Training

Continuing to refine his approach while maintaining his elite speed will help him be a more dangerous threat at the plate. After all, getting yourself in scoring position consistently will only help your team be better offensively.

Overall, Esteury Ruiz has the talent and opportunity to become a breakout star for the Oakland A’s in 2024. If he stays healthy and continues to develop his all-around game, he could become a crucial piece for the A’s future and a fan favorite with his electrifying style of play.

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Featured Image: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

About Author

Nathan Nguyen

My name is Nathan Nguyen, a college student from the beautiful state of California. I cover the three major sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB) for Belly Up Sports. Outside of my writing, I host the 3rd and 10 Podcast: an NFL show with a focus on the New York Giants. We are live every Monday and Thursday at 1 PM EST on YouTube. I also host the Piggin’ Out Podcast, which is live every Tuesday at 7 PM EST on the Belly Up Sports YouTube channel. Finally, I am one of the four members of the Korner Booth Podcast, and we are live every Monday and Thursday at 7 pm EST.

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