When he was a young prospect coming up through the minor leagues, Rio Ruiz admits now that he didn’t take his defense as seriously as he should have.
He recalls being “kicked in the butt” and told to take it more seriously — a boot that has helped him grow into a reliable third baseman for the Orioles and one who rates as the best defensive third baseman in the American League.
With a little time, he might look at his meeting with Orioles manager Brandon Hyde last July in Arizona as a similar sliding-door moment at the plate.