The Los Angeles Dodgers largely opened camp last month without issue, though former top prospect Keibert Ruiz was not with the team for the start of Spring Training due to visa issues.
Multiple days passed without any update on the matter, but on Feb. 28, manager Dave Roberts said Ruiz was traveling from Venezuela to the Dominican Republic to then make his way to the United States.
“I don’t know when that’s going to be, but I do know he’s been working out and staying in shape, so I’m excited to get him back,” Roberts said at the time.
Ruiz has since arrived stateside and could make his way into a Cactus League game by the end of the week. “I think he’s in the state of Arizona now,” Roberts said Saturday. “So now he’s got to go through some intake testing.
“I know he’s kept himself in really good shape, so getting him back to the facility after the intake testing, getting his feet wet. I feel really comfortable at some point soon getting him into a game. Hopefully by the end of [this] week he’ll be in a Major League game.”
Ruiz made his MLB debut last season, memorably hitting a home run in his first career at-bat. He went 2-for-8 with the home run and one RBI in two games with the Dodgers.
Considering Will Smith is entrenched as the starting catcher and Austin Barnes is viewed as ‘1A,’ opportunities for Ruiz at the Major League level could be hard to come by. And with the organizational depth at the position, there’s some belief the Dodgers may be willing to part with Ruiz in a trade.
Price nearing first start
Although David Price has been in camp with the Dodgers since the start of Spring Training, he too has yet to appear in a game. Roberts acknowledged the team has been cautious with the veteran, which he noted wasn’t a result of any sort of injury.
“As I look out, with Julio and Jimmy, he’ll be out there some time next week. I expect him to make his Cactus League debut [this] week,” Roberts said.
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