Darin Ruf was the Phillies first baseman of the future.
The former Eastern League MVP smashed 38 home runs in 2012, breaking Ryan Howard’s Reading home run record (37). Ruf posted a 1.079 OPS in limited MLB action that year, but the table was set for a starting battle between Howard and the rookie Ruf in 2013.
By 2017 both had played their last game in red pinstripes. Howard retired a Phillies hero, Ruf a flameout, unable to live up to his potential.