Esteury Ruiz

Much to the dismay of fantasy enthusiasts expecting a bunch of steals, the Athletics were more concerned with Ruiz's minus-20 defensive runs saved than his 67 swipes in 2023. He broke camp with the club in a reserve role before landing on the IL with a strained wrist. After continuing to experience soreness during rehab, Ruiz was shut down and was soon thereafter ruled out for the season. In late September, he had arthroscopic knee surgery. In limited playing time last season, Ruiz hit flyballs at a 48.6 percent clip and fanned 30.8 percent of the time, both counterproductive to his speed game. If healthy, Ruiz appears relegated to backup duty, especially since Brent Rooker should return to the outfield. If there is a stretch when Ruiz plays every day, his steals remain an asset. Read Past Outlooks