The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on an eight-year contract – including two club options – with catcher Keibert Ruiz on Saturday. The contract begins in 2023 and runs through the 2030 season with club options for the 2031 and 2032 seasons. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Ruiz, 24, is entering his fourth Major League season and his third season as a member of the Washington Nationals. He was Washington’s top prospect and the No. 11 prospect in all of baseball according to Baseball America entering the 2022 season. As a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, Ruiz ranked as their top prospect in 2021 and 2019, according to Baseball America.
Despite having his 2022 season end on Sept. 8, Ruiz ranked among National League catchers in pickoffs (T1st, 4), catcher caught stealing (2nd, 18), games (2nd, 112), doubles (5th, 22), hits (5th, 99) and extra-base hits (T6th, 29) last season. His 18 catcher caught stealings ranked second in Major League Baseball behind Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto (27). Additionally, Ruiz picked off four runners at first base, tied for the most in Major League Baseball.
Ruiz opened the 2022 season in strong fashion, hitting .281/.340/.381 from Opening Day through the end of May. He closed the season hitting safely in 14 of his final 19 games, going 18-for-60 (.300) with four doubles, one homer, six RBI, six walks, one stolen base and seven runs scored during this stretch. He struck out just one time in his last 43 plate appearances (2.3%) to end the season.
Since joining the Nationals at the 2021 Trade Deadline, Ruiz has hit .257 with 25 doubles, nine homers, 50 RBI, 36 walks, six stolen bases and 42 runs scored in 135 games. He’s posted a .319 on-base percentage and a .366 slugging percentage along the way. Over the last two seasons, Ruiz ranks eighth in Major League Baseball (min. 500 PA) with an 11.2% strikeout rate.