33 Darin Ruf LF

Ruf signed a one-year, $1.275 million deal with the Giants on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The 34-year-old saw his first MLB action since 2016 and delivered for the Giants with a .276/.370/.517 slash line and five home runs in 40 games. Ruf is a solid bet to make the Opening Day roster with a decent showing in spring training.

Ruf went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 14-2 win over the Athletics.

Ruf provided a two-run homer in the fourth inning off Athletics starter Mike Minor and later added a two-run single in the eighth. The 34-year-old Ruf also drew a pair of walks in Sunday's game. He's been productive in a limited role this year with a .303/.384/.579 slash line, five homers, 18 RBI, 11 runs scored and a stolen base in 34 contests.

Ruf went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk during the Giants' 6-4 win over Seattle on Thursday.

Ruf took Nick Margevicius deep in the second inning to collect his fourth home run of the season. He is slashing a strong .297/.375/.578 through 64 at-bats thus far.

Ruf went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI in Monday's 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

Ruf entered the game in place of Alex Dickerson and made great use of his only two plate appearances. His two-run single in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie. The 34-year-old owns a .291 average with 12 RBI this season.

Ruf is not in the starting lineup for Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Dodgers.

Ruf started Game 1 of the twin bill against Clayton Kershaw, but will return to the bench despite lefty Caleb Ferguson starting Game 2 for the Dodgers.

Ruf went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Saturday's loss to the Athletics.

Ruf came up in the seventh inning with a pair of runners on base and delivered a three-run blast to break a 3-3 tie. The home run was the first of the season for the veteran, who has been relegated to a platoon role at the start of the campaign. Ruf is slashing .281/.395/.406 through 38 plate appearances.

All five of Ruf's starts this season have come against left-handed pitchers. He is batting .278/.381/.333 with five RBI and two runs in 18 at-bats.

He made the team due to a monster spring training and presumably solid summer camp, and he also survived the first round of roster cuts Thursday. As long as he keeps getting on base at a strong clip against southpaws, the playing time should still be there, and he should eventually start hitting for power.

Ruf went 2-for-3 with three RBI, a run scored and a walk in Friday's 9-2 win over the Rangers.

Ruf got the Giants on the board with an RBI single in the second inning. He later capped off a three-run seventh inning with a two-RBI double to knock in Evan Longoria and Donovan Solano. Ruf has found most of his at-bats versus southpaws, and he's done handsomely with a .385/.467/.462 triple slash, five RBI and two runs scored in 15 plate appearances. With Brandon Belt back from an Achilles injury, it may be harder for Ruf to find consistent playing time at first base.

The Giants selected Ruf's contract Thursday.

Ruf was one of six non-roster players the Giants bumped up the 40-man roster and 30-man Opening Day roster in advance of Thursday's opener versus the Dodgers. Back in North America after a three-year stint in the Korea Baseball Organization, Ruf will provide the Giants with some right-handed power off the bench. He could find himself in the lineup regularly versus southpaws, against whom he's posted a .299/.379/.542 career slash line (150 wRC+).

Ruf made the Giants' 60-man roster.

Even though he was just in camp on a minor-league deal, Ruf had a chance to make the roster under normal circumstances thanks to a .429/.469/.1.000 line with three home runs and a 7:3 K:BB in 32 spring plate appearances. Ruf can play first base and left field, and if his spring outburst is remotely indicative of his current talent level, he could also get starts at designated hitter.

Ruf, who was in Giants camp on a minor-league deal, could open the season on the 26-man roster, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

He hit .429/.469/1.000 with three home runs, five doubles, one triple, one steal and a 7:3 K:BB in 32 plate appearances this spring. The journeyman first baseman/left fielder spent the last three years playing in the KBO, slashing .313/.404/.564 with 86 home runs in 404 games over those three campaigns. Guardado suggests Ruf could make the roster as an outfielder and backup first baseman, but it seems more likely that he heads to Triple-A, as he is not on the 40-man roster.

Ruf signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Thursday, Jayson Stark of The Athletic reports.

Ruf hasn't appeared in the big leagues since the 2016 campaign, as he's spent the last few years overseas in the KBO. He struggled to a .205 average with three home runs and nine RBI in 43 games with the Phillies in 2016; however, he's coming off a season in which he slashed .292/.396/.515 with 22 homers and 101 over 133 contests with the Samsung Lions.

Ruf signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Korea Baseball Organization's Samsung Lions on Friday, Yonhap News Agency reports.

Ruf's impending departure opens up a spot on the Dodgers' 40-man roster. He'll make about double what he would've in the majors this year. Ruf holds a career .246/.305/.423 line in 833 MLB plate appearances, and will see if he can raise his future stock by playing overseas.

Ruf was traded to the Dodgers on Friday along with Darnell Sweeney in exchange for Howie Kendrick.

The 30-year-old fell out of favor in the Phillies' organization, as he failed to capitalize on his opportunities against left-handed pitching in 2016 (.695 OPS) and was passed by Tommy Joseph on the organizational depth chart at first base. He will get a fresh start with the Dodgers although there's not a clear path to at-bats and he's far from a lock to even make the Opening Day roster. Adrian Gonzalez struggled against lefties but a healthy Scott Van Slyke (if he's tendered a contract) may be a better platoon option.

Ruf is out of the lineup Monday against the Marlins, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Ruf had started the previous three games at either corner outfield spot, but with a 2-for-11 performance in those contests, he didn't really make a compelling case for regular duties. For now, it appears Peter Bourjos is ahead of him on the depth chart, but that could change in the weeks to come if manager Peter Mackanin decides to prioritize Ruf's power over Bourjos' defensive skiills.

Ruf will start in left field for the third straight game Sunday against the Braves, MLB.com reports.

Finding competent corner outfield play has been an issue all season for the Phillies, and it seems Ruf is the latest player to get an extended look at the position following his Sept. 2 call-up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Ruf has shown power during his time in the minors, but he's struggled to make contact during various stints at the MLB level over the last several years, making him a potential batting average liability for a fantasy team.

Ruf was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

It has been a rough year for Ruf, as he has slashed just .158/.206/.193 in 63 big league plate appearances. He hit 20 home runs while slashing .294/.356/.529 in 95 games with Lehigh Valley this year, but it's pretty clear at this point that he is a Quadruple-A hitter. Look for him to play sparingly in the outfield and at first base down the stretch for the Phillies.

Ruf went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

Ruf is hitting .256/.292/.628 with five home runs in 43 at-bats since being sent back to minors earlier this month. Tommy Joseph has gotten off to a solid start in the majors, so it may be a while before Ruf gets another opportunity with the Phils.

Ruf was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

Ruf had been getting somewhat consistent playing time on the short side of a platoon at first base with Ryan Howard, but he did nothing to warrant a spot on the roster, batting a mere .158 with three RBI on the season. He'll head to the minors to try and get back on track at the plate. The Phillies called up first baseman Tommy Joseph from Triple-A to take his spot on the roster.

Ruf could be sent to Triple-A if the Phillies opt to promote Tommy Joseph from the minors soon, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Manager Pete Mackanin confirmed Wednesday that the Phillies have discussed promoting Joseph. He would take Ruf's spot in a platoon at first base with Ryan Howard. Ruf, who has an option left, has hit just .161/.210/.196 this season and has yet to homer. Perhaps some time in the minors with consistent playing time will get his bat going again.