Keibert Ruiz catching on

By César Augusto Márquez

The last few weeks have covered the range of emotions for Keibert Ruiz. He participated in the Futures Game during the All-Star week in Washington D.C., leaving with a sore right hand. Then the Dodgers’ prospect heard his name mentioned in the Manny Machado trade rumors.

The Machado chatter clearly could have affected him professionally and personally.

Ruiz, a catcher considered one of the jewels of the Dodgers’ farm system, has found a family in the Los Angeles organization that has helped him deal with the absence of his parents.

That “adoptive” family has helped him fill a huge void, considering his parents have never been able to see him play in the United States.

“It’s been a very emotional week,” he said of the All-Star week. “It was a very beautiful experience to play in the Futures Game, where I met many players and also spent time with players that had already been on my team or against.

“I also heard the rumors, but nothing is concrete at this time. Sure, as a player we have to adapt, but this is the team where I have developed and have found a family in every sense. Although I haven’t been traded I’ve been very pensive these days.”

Venezuela Proud

Ruiz was born in Valencia, Venezuela, the cradle of notable catchers such as Salvador Pérez, Wilson Ramos and Willson Contreras.

His family remains there, 3,567 miles away from Los Angeles, where he aspires to accomplish his dream of reaching the big leagues.

He frustratingly longs to have his mother Lady and his family in the United States to see him mature.

“That’s something I want to do,” he said. “Sadly, some circumstances have presented themselves that haven’t allowed them to secure visas. I try to speak with them daily.

“It’s not easy being here knowing they’re all far away. But I’m also aware that these are some of the sacrifices that one makes as a ballplayer.”

He notes that his parents attempted to secure a visa last year at the American embassy in the Dominican Republic.

“Sadly, the hurricanes that hit the Caribbean didn’t allow them to travel,” he said. “Next year I hope to finally have them here visiting.”

Ruiz smiles when he remembers all the things he misses about Venezuela, such as the cheese arepas that his mother prepares so that he can share with his father Jose Gregorio and his two younger brothers.

A Dodger Blue family

Ruiz didn’t know how to speak English when he arrived in the United States in 2015 at 16 years old. He found support in the Dodgers organization from Dodgers catching coordinator Travis Barbary, who taught him English and showed him the support of a home.

“Because of my position as a catcher it’s natural to have a relationship with (Barbary),” he said. “Surely it’s a beautiful friendship. We started to talk more, and then I began to trust him with more personal things.

“He found out I didn’t speak English well and he said, ‘Why don’t you come to my home in the offseason and learn to speak English?

Ruiz traveled to Clemson, S.C., the last two winters to live with Barbary.

“It was something that was very enriching,” Ruiz said. “I feel that I learned to speak English with them and to adopt to the American customs. They also learned to speak Spanish from me.”

Ruiz knew he had gained a family last October when he attended the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year ceremony.

“I wanted my family to attend, but they couldn’t,” Ruiz said. “I called Barbary. Travis is like a second father for me.”

Ruiz made himself a baseball player on a youth baseball team called the Pumas of Odenor, which belongs to the Criollitos of Venezuela.

Big leaguers Jose Nieves and Pablo Sandoval also came out of that youth program. Those are precisely some of the memories that make him miss being with his family.

“I think that one of the things that I enjoyed the most when I was a kid was to go play baseball and have my family there supporting me,” he said. “It’s something that I miss. I hope to soon have them with me supporting me from the stands, that and my mom’s arepas.”

Featured Image: Rob Tringali / Major League Baseball