Carlos Ruiz had played 1,109 games in his career before Tuesday. The longtime Phillies catcher, now with the Seattle Mariners, had only played two other positions: An inning at third base during extra-inning games with the Phils in 2008 and 2011, and an inning at first earlier this season. Last night against the Twins, he added another position: Pitcher.
Ruiz gave up a run and struck out Kennys Vargas in the Mariners’ 20-7 loss to the Twins. He actually got Vargas to strike out looking, with an 82 mph fastball that just caught the black.
Ruiz finished his appearance with one inning pitched, two hits, two walks, one run—courtesy of Eddie Rosario’s solo homer in the eighth—and one strikeout. This performance would put him in the top half of the Nationals’ bullpen.