SAN FRANCISCO — In between hugs and hellos and the way’ve you beens, Darin Ruf arrived at his locker within the Giants clubhouse Wednesday afternoon. Virtually a yr to this point since he was on the transfer of their season-opening win in 2022, some seven months since he was surprisingly despatched on the transfer to New York, and two weeks since his transient tenure there got here to an unceremonious finish, Ruf was again the place he wished to be all alongside, with the Giants in San Francisco.
“The hugs I received to present at present,” Ruf mentioned, “have been so much higher than the hugs I received to present again in August. It was nice to see all people.”
Designated for task by the Mets after spring coaching, Ruf needed to wait per week as he went unclaimed via the waiver course of. He didn’t initially see a reunion with the Giants within the playing cards, however a string of left-handed pitching and accidents to right-handed hitting outfielders Mitch Haniger and Austin Slater opened a door. The Giants wasted no time getting Ruf within the lineup, batting fifth Wednesday night time because the designated hitter in opposition to Clayton Kershaw within the rubber match of their three-game collection with the Dodgers.
Ruf performed in 11 spring coaching video games with the Mets, hitting .167/.265/.233 in 30 at-bats. He was restricted by arthritis in his wrist however obtained a cortisone shot that he mentioned helped the problem that had been bothering him for a number of years. Since signing a minor-league take care of the Giants on Saturday, Ruf mentioned he had gotten about 10 at-bats in prolonged spring coaching video games in Arizona, which supervisor Gabe Kapler mentioned have been “actually high quality plate appearances.”
“As everyone knows, good plate appearances in prolonged spring coaching will not be the identical as dealing with Clayton Kershaw in a major-league sport,” Kapler mentioned. “The place he's mentally is extra essential than whether or not or not he hits instantly. He’s simply in a greater psychological area. I’m completely happy for him and his household.”
After signing a two-year contract extension earlier than final season, the commerce to New York final August took Ruf without warning. It additionally got here at a tough time in his private life, solely a pair months faraway from the sudden loss of life of his father, which took him away from the Giants for near per week in Might.
In 28 video games with the Mets, Ruf batted .152/.216/.197 and have become the frequent scorn of the passionate New York fanbase.
“I replicate on my time there and need I might’ve performed higher, however baseball is difficult and also you undergo ups and downs,” Ruf mentioned. “Clearly I didn’t play in addition to I wished to. It was a superb studying expertise.”
Mets basic supervisor Billy Eppler mentioned the deadline deal “was a commerce that didn’t work out, plain and easy.” You don’t need to look far to seek out proof of the Giants’ coup: the stall adjoining to Ruf’s belongs to J.D. Davis, considered one of 4 gamers acquired for Ruf. Davis, who batted cleanup immediately in entrance of Ruf on Wednesday, has batted .274/.358/.506 (an .864 OPS) since becoming a member of the Giants. And bear in mind, as a result of Ruf went via waivers unclaimed, the Giants are solely on the hook for the prorated major-league minimal of the contract they gave him earlier than final season.
It took solely 4 days from the time he signed with the Giants for them to pick him to their roster and insert him into their lineup, a velocity even Ruf was mentioned was faster than he imagined. However after Kershaw on Wednesday, the Giants have two extra left-handers scheduled to start out in opposition to them in Detroit and probably two extra in Miami, which additionally contains a lefty-heavy bullpen.
Ruf is predicted to function the Giants’ major right-handed hitting designated hitter, a minimum of till Haniger and Slater are able to return, although that isn't anticipated till after the tip of the upcoming street journey.
The Giants imagine a return to a corporation the place he feels snug and renewed psychological well being may help him rediscover the shape that made him one of many majors’ most harmful hitters in opposition to left-handed pitching. From 2020-21, Ruf batted .275/.390/.579 in opposition to left-handers, a .969 OPS that ranked twenty fourth within the majors.
After talking with Ruf, Kapler famous “how difficult this sport is when you might have loads of issues occurring in your life. How mentally taxing it may be, how transferring will not be nothing for major-league gamers, how enjoying in a brand new metropolis away from your loved ones will not be nothing, and the way that may take its toll.
“You’re not mentally sturdy on a regular basis. I feel Darin was compromised a bit in New York for quite a lot of completely different causes. I’m glad that he’s again and stronger than when was at the moment.”
Hjelle despatched out
In a corresponding transfer, the Giants optioned right-hander Sean Hjelle to Triple-A Sacramento. Nevertheless, Kapler burdened that the transfer wasn’t an indictment of the 26-year-old, who struggled in his first three outings after impressing throughout spring coaching.
“Us optioning Sean will not be a sign that we don’t suppose he’s a very good major-league pitcher. We’re getting an increasing number of snug with that idea each time he takes the mound,” Kapler mentioned. “Sadly for younger gamers which have choices that comes at the price of alternative within the quick time period. However long run we really feel fairly snug that Sean’s going to make an impression on our employees.”
The Giants plan to maintain Hjelle stretched out at Triple-A Sacramento. He pitched a number of innings in all three of his aid appearances, permitting 9 runs (six earned) whereas strolling 4 and putting out 10.