Darin Ruf is a former professional baseball player who played primarily as a first baseman and outfielder. He was born on July 28, 1986, in Omaha, Nebraska, and attended Creighton University, where he played college baseball for the Creighton Bluejays.
Ruf was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 20th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. He spent several years in the Phillies' minor league system, where he developed a reputation as a power hitter. In 2012, he was called up to the major leagues for the first time and made his debut on September 14, 2012, against the Houston Astros.
Ruf played for the Phillies from 2012 to 2016, primarily as a first baseman and outfielder. He was known for his power hitting, and in 2013, he hit 14 home runs in just 73 games. However, he struggled with consistency and was often used as a platoon player.
In 2017, Ruf signed with the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization. He had a successful season in Korea, hitting .315 with 31 home runs and 124 RBIs in 133 games. He returned to the United States in 2018, signing a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He spent most of the season in the minor leagues but was called up to the major leagues in September, where he hit three home runs in 13 games.
Ruf returned to Korea in 2019, signing with the Samsung Lions once again. He had another strong season, hitting .323 with 22 home runs and 84 RBIs in 126 games. In 2020, he signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants and was called up to the major leagues in August. He hit .276 with five home runs and 18 RBIs in 51 games for the Giants.
Ruf played his final season in 2021, once again with the San Francisco Giants. He hit .247 with 11 home runs and 32 RBIs in 82 games, primarily as a pinch hitter and designated hitter.
Overall, Darin Ruf had a successful baseball career, both in the United States and in Korea. He was known for his power hitting and was a valuable asset to the teams he played for. While he never became a star player, he was a consistent contributor and a fan favorite.
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