The Los Angeles Dodgers made their first round of Spring Training roster cuts on Monday, removing 28 players from the Major League clubhouse at Camelback Ranch. Among the most notable prospects that were sent to the Minor League side included Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz.
Ruiz was optioned while Gray got re-assigned. The difference in the designation is players who are on the 40-man roster get optioned, while those who are not get re-assigned.
Gray appeared in two Cactus League games for the Dodgers, allowing three runs on two hits with five strikeouts over three innings pitched.
Ruiz got off to a late start this spring after visa issues held him up from reporting to camp on time. He recently got into his first Cactus League action and promptly tallied a pair of hits in two at-bats off the bench.
“I think for Keibert it was late arrival to camp and we just didn’t get to see him as much as we would’ve liked,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of his message to Ruiz.
“But continue to go out there and take at-bats every day, play regularly once they start playing games on the other side and when we get a chance we’ll try to bring him over. Just really impressed with the way he looks and the way he’s matured.
“With Josiah, it’s the starters are building up. He needs to build up as a starter, get on a regular routine and continue to fine tune some things. I thought Jo-Jo had a good camp and he’s only going to get better.”
After the first round of Spring Training roster cuts, the Dodgers currently have 45 players remaining in big league camp. Of those, 33 are on the 40-man roster and the remaining 12 are non-roster invitees.
Full list of roster cuts
In addition to Ruiz, pitchers Gerardo Carrillo, Andre Jackson, Edwin Uceta and Alex Vesia, along with outfielders Zach Reks and Luke Raley, were optioned.
As for those re-assigned to Minor League camp, the list extends to catcher Hunter Feduccia; pitchers Bobby Miller, Landon Knack, Michael Grove, Nolan Long, Jose Martinez, Robinson Ortiz, Ryan Pepiot, Gus Varland and Kendall Williams; infielders Jacob Amaya, Michael Busch, Kody Hoese, Miguel Vargas, Devin Mann, Leonel Valera and Omar Estevez; and outfielders James Outman, Andy Pages and Ryan Noda.
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