Getting a shot with the O's, Ruiz is learning and loving his major league time

As most young players in the major leagues can tell you, it is great to get to the majors and greater yet to have an everyday role when you make it.

The last three years, infielder Rio Ruiz got 288 plate appearances with the Atlanta Braves, and they gave him a bit of a look in the summer of 2017.

But in the first month of this season he already has 93 plate appearances, and he's been the everyday third baseman for the Orioles. He's been a solid defender and his bat is trending up. A great opportunity is there for him.

As he goes about putting in the time and effort to show he belongs, Ruiz said he also doesn't forget to appreciate the experience he's going through. At 24, he's in the majors and he's loving it.

"I was talking to Dwight (Smith Jr.) about this the other day," Ruiz said. "We were at the batting cage and I asked him, 'How often do you actually say to yourself, 'Damn, I'm in the big leagues' ? He said, 'Every time I'm on the field.' I think everyone here is in the same boat. We're hungry. We're not satisfied with our results, even when they are good. Everyone just wants to get better."

We've seen many Orioles teams over the years where there were few young players and they stood out. Here, much of the roster is young and they are going through the season's ups and downs together.

"A lot of us are getting our first real taste of big league experience," said Ruiz. "It's fun to talk with guys and talk about the day or what it is actually like to play in the big leagues. You work so hard to get to the big leagues, and when you are actually there, some guys don't take a step back to take it all in. I think we all take it in, but also realize there is more work to be done. We want to stay here, and everyone is hungry, for the most part."

Ruiz had a limited chance with the Braves and for now is getting a bigger one in Baltimore. Everyday reps give a player a better chance to get better.

"Nothing is guaranteed," he said. "But not getting consistent at-bats earlier was challenging, being a younger guy. I had to get used to not playing every day. But I think that time there going up and down benefitted me in the long run."

Manager Brandon Hyde sees in Ruiz a player trying to run with his opportunity.

"He's been in a couple of organizations and he's had limited major league at-bats," said Hyde. "Dealt with some adversity in the minor leagues. And now he's getting an opportunity to play with a coaching staff that is behind him. And he's done a really nice job defensively, and I think Rio is just scratching the surface of what kind of offensive player he can be.

"This last handful of games he's really showing you he can use the whole field. Love the way he stays in the middle of the field. I think he's also going to learn to stay behind the ball and pull some homers too. I just like that he's getting an opportunity, and he's doing everything he can to stay here and prove that he's a big league player."

Over the last nine games Ruiz has produced three of his four multi-hit games, and he is hitting .286 in that span. That raised his season average from .200 to .238. Ruiz also leads the Orioles in walk rate at 12.9 percent, which is above the league average of 9.2. The only other Oriole above league average is Chris Davis, at 9.4.

"I think he's always had strike-zone discipline and a good feel for the strike zone," Hyde said. "But now he's doing that against big league pitching on a nightly basis. He's getting better as the year is going on, and I think he's going to continue to improve. You see him work deep into counts a lot. Love that about him. As he matures as a hitter, he'll be able to understand when to be more aggressive at times. Maybe to battle with two strikes a little bit better. Whatever it may be. That's just the progression of hitting in the big leagues."