It was a big selection for the Pirates, who took the talented prep infielder out of The Stony Brook School in Stony Brook, N.Y. on Long Island, and signed him for $3.5 million, more than $1.2 million from the $2.28 million value for the pick.<\/p>\n
![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m3vb20tfcc115ma4vp.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
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Jul 14, 2024; Ft. Worth, TX, USA; The Pittsburgh Pirates draft Konnor Griffin with the ninth pick during the first round of the MLB Draft at Cowtown Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n
Ruiz will turn 20 years old at the start of the 2027 season and play his first professional games, after not doing so at the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
There’s a lot to like about Ruiz, who is great defensively at shortstop and was even considered the best fielder at his position. <\/p>\n
Ruiz earned grades of “70” for his fielding from Baseball America<\/a> and “65” from MLB Pipeline<\/a>, plus arm grades of “60” from MLB Pipeline and “55” from Baseball America.<\/p>\n His defensive prowess moved shortstop Grady Emerson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, over to third base when they played for Team USA, winning the gold medal at the 2025 U-18 Baseball World Cup. <\/p>\n Ruiz is a little undersized, standing 5-foot-10 and 168 pounds, and won’t become a massive home run hitter, but could serve as a solid contact hitter for the future.<\/p>\n He is a switch-hitter, and if he continues to grow and develop into his body, Ruiz should add some power and also contact, which he’ll need to complement his Gold Glove-caliber fielding.<\/p>\n How Ruiz Can Honor Clemente This Winter<\/p>\n Gigantes De Carolina starts playing on Nov. 4, and their season runs through the end of December, playing 40 games and facing the five other teams in the league.<\/p>\n Ruiz is not required to play for Gigantes De Carolina, but it’s a great opportunity for him to get his professional career going and honor the Pirates legend.<\/p>\n Aug 1970; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a portrait Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n He is of Puerto Rican decent, through his grandfather Sandalio, who moved to New York from the island.<\/p>\n Clemente is the greatest Puerto Rican player ever<\/a> and arguably the best Pirates player ever too.<\/p>\n He was a 15-time All-Star, won 12 Gold Gloves, four-time batting champion, 1966 National League MVP, helped win the 1960 and 1971 World Series, winning MVP honors for the latter, and finished with 3,000 hits, 240 home runs<\/a> and a .317 batting average.<\/p>\n Clemente is best known for his humanitarian work and for his death on Dec. 31, 1972, after a plane crash that was set to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.<\/p>\n Playing for the Pirates and being of Puerto Rican descent is a big connection to Clemente and Ruiz can do that if he decides to play winter ball.<\/p>\n The Queens native already trains with New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, a Puerto Rican native himself, and can honor the greatest talent from the island this winter. <\/p>\n![\"Pittsburgh](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/01m3vbmm7ns4vdy6q136.jpg\" "\\"Pittsburgh")
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