WASHINGTON - Carlos Ruiz ducked out of the visiting clubhouse on Thursday afternoon and headed to the indoor batting cage at Nationals Park as he continued to adjust to his role as a secondary catcher.
Ruiz was not in the lineup for Thursday's 3-0 win over the Nationals. He has started just nine of the team's first 22 games. But when he plays, Ruiz has proven to be productive. He has 10 hits in his first 34 at-bats. Ruiz has hit three home runs, one more than he hit all of last season.
The 37-year-old's production stems from his off-day routine.