One big problem spot in the Orioles lineup so far in 2021 has been Rio Ruiz. The 26-year-old lefty-hitting infielder has been around since some of the earliest of Mike Elias’s days with the Orioles. Ruiz was a fourth round pick by the Astros in the first draft where Elias was an assistant there in 2012. That past connection seems to have been enough to give Ruiz 213 games worth of chances as an Oriole to break out into something more.
Ruiz has batted .220/.292/.380 over three seasons as an Oriole. His 2021 campaign has been his worse one yet, as over 31 games Ruiz is hitting just .