3 years agoAlthough he's only 23, Ruiz has been on the prospect landscape for eight years now. The offensive-minded catcher saw his development stall for two years at the Double-A level and he then lost the 2020 season to the pandemic. Ruiz emerged from the void with more muscle and an improved approach at the plate. He's always had uncanny contact skills but that led to him making contact with too many pitchers' pitches and not waiting for good pitches to drive. That changed for the better in 2021 and Ruiz also added more loft to his swing, which caused his fly-ball rate to jump by an eye-catching 20%. He also became more willing to pull the ball after previously deploying a heavy opposite-field approach. After previously topping out at 12 home runs for a full season, Ruiz slugged 24 home runs in 2021 between Triple-A and the majors (101 games). He also hit well above .300 at the Triple-A level despite the new approach. Along with making huge offensive strides last year, Ruiz moved from the Dodgers — where he was stuck behind Will Smith — to the Nationals. That trade deadline deal provided him with a clear path to regular playing time in 2022 — although the club will also want to see what they have with fellow young catcher Riley Adams. With a 143 ADP, Ruiz is getting some love but could easily outperform his slot.--Marc Hulet - RotoBaller