The Orioles don’t yet officially have a third base competition, but with one potentially looming, Rio Ruiz chose the right time to return to the lineup and play the way he did Monday.
After missing more than a week with an illness, Ruiz doubled twice and made a diving stop in the field in what was also his first game since reports surfaced that the Orioles are nearing a deal with free agent Maikel Franco.
No current Oriole has played in more games for them over the past two years than Ruiz, who as a December 2018 waiver claim was one of the first acquisitions made by executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias’ front office.