Indians sign Ruiz

Brian Ruiz (Photo: Plain Dealer)

The Indians today announced that they have signed 41st round pick outfielder Brian Ruiz, a 2011 graduate from Lincoln West High School in Cleveland, Ohio.

Ruiz was named Player of the Year in the Senate Athletic League for the second straight season, hitting .600 with 22 RBI while using a wooden bat all season. The right-handed hitting centerfielder led the Wolverines to the Division I district semifinals, the farthest a Cleveland public school has advanced in 24 years. He was a member of the Senate All-Star team for three years.

The Indians had been following Ruiz while he was playing summer ball, and what they saw combined with his local ties was a perfect match for the two sides to strike a deal and get him into the fold.  The wooden bat he used all season was given to him by fellow Tribe farmhand Alex Lavisky, and he wears #24 in honor of Willie Mays.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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2011 Draft Signings: DeJesus, Smith signs

Luis DeJesus

The Indians have signed 11th round pick right-handed pitcher Luis DeJesus.  Also the Indians have signed undrafted free agent right-handed pitcher Josh McKeon out of Upper Iowa University.  Both players should be assigned to an affiliate in the coming days.

According to a report from the West Central Tribune in Minnesota, 9th round pick third baseman Jordan Smith signed with the Indians on Sunday.

The Indians are following 41st round pick outfielder Brian Ruiz out in summer ball, and it appears that if any deal is reached with him it will not come until close to the August 15th signing deadline.

Speaking of the deadline, do not expect any overslot deal to be announced until close to August 15th. A few may trickle in before then, but the majority should come either on the deadline date or during the week leading up to it. A lot of times the players are already signed but Major League Baseball will have the player and club sit on the signing until MLB approves it closer to the deadline.

As one player drafted in the past few years who was signed well before the deadline told me: “There are so many factors that come into play with that. The [Indians] have the commissioner’s office they have to deal with, and sometimes it is not about finding an agreement it is just waiting on that or waiting for guys drafted right around you to sign. I think it would be a lot easier if they could just get the deal approved to get guys out playing or maybe have some kind of plan. It is just so hard as you don't know when everybody is going to sign. I can understand because I had to wait a whole summer just hanging around the house and working a little bit even tough I knew I was signed."

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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2011 Indians 41st Round Pick: OF Brian Ruiz

Photo: Cleveland.com

In the 41st round of the 2011 Draft the Indians select outfielder Brian Ruiz out of Lincoln West High School (OH).

Bats: Right, Weight: Right, Height: 6'3", Weight: 180, Date of Birth: 09/11/1992

Note: Ruiz is a hometown pick as he goes to high school in Cleveland. He is from the Dominican, and played this season using a wooden bat given to him by now-fellow Tribehand Alex Lavisky. As of May 20th, he was hitting .588, and had driven in 21 runs in only ten games. He wears #24 in honor of Willie Mays.

Jeff Ellis: The Indians go local with this pick and take prep outfielder Brian Ruiz. He wore 24 in high school in honor of Willie Mays and is originally from the Dominican Republic. He moved to the US when he was 14 years of age. He is good friends with current Indians prospect Alex Lavisky, and his prize possession is a wood bat given to him by Lavisky. He prefers wood bats to metal bats, which is a rare thing as younger hitters feel uncomfortable when they use the wooden bat. He is a project as he came late to organized baseball, but there is size and some possible power in his bat. He hit almost .600 as of mid-May, and I think is a player that has a good chance to sign. He is a bit of a long shot, but he is so raw and there is a lot to like from his athletic ability down to his excellent work ethic.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

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