born july american professional baseball baseman outfielder born nebraska played subsequently attended excelled playing baseball phillies drafted minor leagues initially hit high batting average combined power numbers phillies prospects major league debut september having hit home runs lead split time triple major league phillies league season embroiled roster battle bench spot entering hurt oblique landed disabled list prior season early life career born july parents bill nebraska siblings older rest younger attended helped team win nebraska state championship sophomore season finish runner senior year played football basketball captain baseball football teams senior season achieved state honors football basketball senior season committed play baseball combination athletics academics standout seasons serving squad baseman freshman season started games sophomore season drew significant named player year member team conference squad team conference scholar athlete named star performance summer collegiate baseball member strong performance continued junior season compiled game hitting streak contributed season batting average collegiate career culminated named second team team team academic american espn overall record books finishing second rbi total bases hits sixth walks seventh doubles tied 10th home runs started games career earned degree finance compiled grade point average successful businessman professional career minor leagues drafted philadelphia_phillies 20th round major_league_baseball draft phillies drafted scouting director asserted outstanding defensive baseman chance hit tremendous makeup converting play predominantly outfield fielding characterized weak phillies general manager commented defensive skills play day professional assignment performing promoted short season squads held batting average participated began season class spent games phillies promoted class advanced phillies minor league player week late total amassed home runs runs batted rbis posting amalgamated batting average power emergence began hit leading doubles home runs rbis batting average defensively played base base left field pitched innings relief inning game season played philadelphia_phillies present enjoyed great success playing renamed earning valuable player mvp honors paul award given best player phillies minor league system season sold shirts said reference led home runs rbis tied league lead playing games sacrifice flies route earning september making major league debut september triple level entirely recorded major league hit september home run totaled home runs rbis game cup coffee end season article summarized season journey minor league system way scene midway season wasn highly touted prospect knew years old guy kind changed started season triple valley recalled phillies july ryan_howard placed disabled list major league level finished fifth home runs august major league player stretch starts major league level base right field left field starts triple came left field came base struggled find spot phillies roster contribute despite strong performance proving productive offensive contributor showing defensive versatility spot lineup locked season columnist wrote entering season set compete spot bench declared good particularly defensively play everyday phillies placed disabled list strained oblique estimated recovery time end april beginning returned played suffered injury june left wrist sliding wall playing left field returned major league phillies july landed disabled list struggled games bats hits phillies ryan_howard struggling base played innings base overall amassed major league plate appearances significantly hindered injuries began fight playing time clear opening phillies roster notwithstanding fact players roster ability hit power optioned triple exchange player profile baseball analyst asserts ceiling platoon player base superior allowed terms potential wrote positively historic seen player age similar skill set fringe average hitter huge hole swing plus raw power runner pretty unknown arm strength sustainable note major league level turns halfway year possesses body typically don age weird situation triumph phillies player development system effort major_league uniform offense strong power hitter according talent quoted sports baseball preview magazine possesses raw country strength plate swing struggles hit outside pitches poor balance plate consequently able hit fly balls drive mistake pitches park patient hitter opposite hitters right handed hitter hits left handed pitchers better right handed pitchers defense played base corner outfield spots career focused outfield stages development ryan_howard perceived base outfield liability pretty base man position persona phillies organization led suggest better suited designated hitter american_league personal life wife married december include traveling offseason resides hometown nebraska sister attended played seasons
Darin Ruf