José Ruiz Bio
José Rafael Ruiz Aparicio is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who currently plays for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball. Ruiz made his Major League Baseball debut in 2017 and has pitched for multiple MLB clubs, building a career as a right-handed reliever before signing with Yokohama.
Early Life and Background
José Rafael Ruiz Aparicio was born on October 21, 1994, in Venezuela. He signed with the San Diego Padres as an international free agent on July 2, 2011, beginning his professional career in the Dominican Summer League in 2012 as a position player.
Ruiz began his career as a catcher and spent the early minor league seasons in hitter roles with the Arizona League Padres, Eugene Emeralds and Fort Wayne TinCaps. Midway through the 2016 season the Padres converted him from a position player into a pitcher, a change that set the path for his major league debut the following year.
Path to Baseball
Ruiz’s progression followed the international signing and minor league development route common for many Venezuelan prospects. He played multiple seasons in rookie and low-A levels, working through adjustments at the plate before the organization shifted his role to the mound in 2016.
The conversion to pitching drew on his arm strength and athletic background as a former catcher. The Padres added Ruiz to their 40-man roster on November 18, 2016, to protect him from the Rule 5 draft and to recognize his potential as a relief pitcher.
José Ruiz Career
Early Career (2012–2016)
Ruiz made his professional debut in 2012 with the Dominican Summer League Padres and continued in rookie-level play in 2013. He moved through Low–A and Single–A assignments over the next several seasons while still appearing as a hitter through 2015 and into early 2016.
Midway through 2016 the Padres converted Ruiz into a pitcher; he made 11 scoreless appearances across the Arizona League, Tri-City and Lake Elsinore and earned a place on the Padres’ 40-man roster at the end of the year. The position change proved decisive and led to his addition to the major league roster the following season.
San Diego Padres Breakthrough (2017)
Ruiz began 2017 with the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm and was called up to the San Diego Padres on July 24, 2017. He made his major league debut that day, pitching a scoreless inning, recording one strikeout and one walk, and striking out Yoenis Céspedes for his first major league punch-out.
His time with the Padres at the big league level was brief in 2017; he was sent back down the following day and was later designated for assignment in December 2017. The brief MLB debut established him as a viable arm in relief and brought league attention that led to his next opportunity.
Chicago White Sox Era (2018–2023)
The Chicago White Sox claimed Ruiz off waivers on December 22, 2017. Ruiz began 2018 with the Winston-Salem Dash and made his White Sox major league debut on September 4, 2018, finishing the season with six appearances and a 4.15 ERA.
Across the 2019 to 2022 seasons Ruiz worked primarily as a middle reliever and low-leverage option out of the White Sox bullpen. He recorded a notable workload in 2021, appearing in 59 games with a 3.05 ERA while pitching 65 innings and striking out 63 batters. Ruiz avoided arbitration with a one-year, $925,000 contract with Chicago on January 13, 2023, before an early 2023 rough stretch led to his designation for assignment in April.
Arizona Diamondbacks and 2023 Season
On April 9, 2023, the White Sox traded Ruiz to the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash considerations. He made 34 appearances for Arizona in 2023, posting a 4.43 ERA with 36 strikeouts across 40.2 innings before being designated for assignment on July 25 and later sent outright to Triple-A Reno.
Following the 2023 season Ruiz elected free agency on November 2, opening the door for a series of short-term major league and minor league moves in subsequent seasons.
Philadelphia Phillies Tenure (2024–2025)
Ruiz signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on November 28, 2023, which included a spring training invitation. He began 2024 in Triple-A Lehigh Valley and was selected to the Phillies’ major league roster on May 3, 2024.
Ruiz appeared in 52 games for Philadelphia in 2024, compiling a 5–1 record with a 3.71 ERA, 52 strikeouts and one save across 51 innings. The Phillies and Ruiz agreed to a one-year major league contract in November 2024 reportedly worth $1.2 million. In 2025 he made 16 appearances for Philadelphia but struggled to a higher ERA, leading to his designation for assignment on June 1, 2025.
Atlanta Braves and Transactions in 2025
The Atlanta Braves claimed Ruiz off waivers on June 7, 2025, and he made two appearances for the club, allowing three earned runs with three strikeouts over two innings. On June 20 he was designated for assignment and subsequently cleared waivers, being outrighted to the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers on June 22.
Later in 2025 Ruiz was involved in a trade to the Texas Rangers on July 17, 2025, along with cash considerations in exchange for Dane Dunning. In 20 appearances for the Triple-A Round Rock Express he posted a 1–0 record and a 2.31 ERA with 24 strikeouts and seven saves across 23.1 innings before electing free agency on September 29, 2025.
Yokohama DeNA BayStars Era (2026–Present)
On December 3, 2025, Ruiz signed a one-year contract with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball. The deal was reported at $1.2 million and marked Ruiz’s move to NPB for the 2026 season.
Through May 20, 2026, Ruiz recorded a 1–0 record with a 0.73 ERA and 10 strikeouts in NPB, reflecting a strong early adjustment to Japanese professional baseball. His signing in late 2025 and early 2026 appearances in Japan represent the current chapter of his professional career.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Ruiz projects as a right-handed relief specialist with experience closing and high-leverage setup work in both the United States and Japan. His background as a former catcher contributes to his pitch sequence understanding and ability to adapt in short-relief stints, while his strikeout totals indicate swing-and-miss capability in the bullpen role.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Ruiz’s career include his MLB debut on July 24, 2017, his 2021 season in which he logged 59 appearances for the Chicago White Sox, and his transition to Nippon Professional Baseball with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in December 2025. His cumulative MLB record through the 2025 season stood at 11–9 with a 4.62 ERA and 284 strikeouts.
José Ruiz Career Wins
Across his major league career through the 2025 season Ruiz recorded 11 wins in MLB, and his early NPB appearances produced a 1–0 record through May 20, 2026. He has accumulated strikeouts and service time as a swing reliever across several organization moves.
Major League Highlights
Ruiz’s first major league strikeout came in his debut when he struck out Yoenis Céspedes. His most active MLB season by appearances and innings pitched came in 2021 with the Chicago White Sox, when he worked 65 innings and struck out 63 batters while posting a 3.05 ERA in 59 games.
Other Wins & Performances
Ruiz’s minor league and Triple-A stints include scoreless appearances during his initial conversion to pitching in 2016 and late-2025 success with Triple-A Round Rock, where he recorded seven saves and a 2.31 ERA in 20 appearances prior to electing free agency.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of transitions for Ruiz: he began the year with the Philadelphia Phillies, struggled in limited big league appearances and was designated for assignment in June. The Atlanta Braves claimed him, he made two appearances, then was outrighted to Triple-A before later being traded to the Texas Rangers organization in July.
In Triple-A Round Rock he posted effective numbers with a 1–0 record, a 2.31 ERA, 24 strikeouts and seven saves, demonstrating the capacity to close games in the minors. Ruiz elected free agency on September 29, 2025, and signed with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in December 2025, beginning his NPB tenure in 2026.