Baseball Prospectus | | Eyewitness Scouting Report


	Keibert Ruiz Born: 07/20/1998 (Age: 19)
	Bats: Switch	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 0"	Weight: 225
	Primary Position: C

Thick frame, mature for age, broad shoulders with some present strength, projection for additional muscle development; strong legs, thick but not bulky in the lower half, moderate agility

Evaluator	Wilson Karaman
Report Date	09/11/2017
Dates Seen	9 games July-September
Affiliate	Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High A, Dodgers)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Video
2019	High	55	Yes

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	55	Switch-hitter, open setup from left side, significant pre-pitch movement; consistent stride closing up and getting on line, aggressive stride has toned down a bit, tight coil, strong launch position, tips his bat, generates torque; front foot will get down early; keeps hands back well, solid hand-eye, above-average barrel control, above-average bat speed, clears hips efficiently, will generate some plane to lift balls in hitters' counts; aggressive in-zone, advanced zone command; more raw swing from right side, starts square, noisier load, hitch, shorter stroke, quick trigger, lacks torque, flat swing path, up-the-middle approach, less consistent with the barrel, struggles with velocity, will expand against changeups; significantly more advanced from left side, 55 projection LH, 45 RH, solid-average hit tool.
Power	45	Average raw LH, below-average RH; LH approach generally gap to gap, will lift and separate some in favorable counts, strength and bat speed to damage the baseball, should grow into a half-grade of additional raw, can play to an average tool in game from left side; RH swing geared exclusively to contact, very limited ability to lift balls, doesn't demonstrate interest in pulling balls, below-average utility.
Baserunning/Speed	20	4.48 LH, 4.62 RH; slow out of the box, marginal second gear, shows a head on the bases, but poor utility.
Glove	55	Quiet setting up, rides pretty low, inconsistent getting down on balls but flashes agility, sound technique; advanced framer, very strong glove hand, effective receiver at bottom of the zone, presents pitches well; strong reflexes pouncing on bunts, demonstrates advanced body control; ingredients of a solid defensive backstop.
Arm	50	Above-average raw arm strength, agile on pops, very inconsistent mechanics at present, immature game speed, consistently rushes throws, flies open; ball has significant tail, frequent misses high and arm side; most raw part of game at present.

Still a teenager, Ruiz impressed after a mid-season promotion to High-A as an advanced receiver with quality bat-to-ball skills and some nascent pop. The defensive package is raw to be sure, particularly regarding controlling the running game, but he already frames quite well and flashes sound blocking technique. The left-handed bat is much farther along, but he's got an idea of the strike zone from both sides and shows strong hand-eye and barrel control. This is a quality catching prospect with the ingredients to develop into a big-league starter, with room for a bit more if the right-handed swing maxes out.