With outfielder Griffin Conine<\/a> on the injured list, he\u2019s a bit more than just insurance right now. He\u2019s played in every game since May 31 and he\u2019s starting to generate something at the plate the Marlins<\/a> could use right now. It\u2019s why his trade, while still not earth-shattering, is one the Marlins likely won\u2019t regret by season\u2019s end. <\/p>\n Esteury Ruiz\u2019s Season in Miami Miami Marlins right fielder Esteury Ruiz. | Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Ruiz started the season on the 10-day injured list after he suffered an oblique strain at the end of spring training. He returned to the Marlins on April 23 after several rehab games at Triple-A Jacksonville. <\/p>\n He\u2019s played in 31 games but only has a slash if .200\/.293\/.480 with three home runs, six RBI and six walks. He was not expected to be an everyday player, so the limited production isn\u2019t that concerning. But he\u2019s helping in areas that should give the team some juice going into the rest of June.<\/p>\n He drew three walks against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday. While that\u2019s half of his season output, he\u2019s drawn five of his six walks in the last six games. He owes that to everyday playing time. That has helped boost his batting average by 18 points and his on-base percentage by nearly 100 points in the last six games. <\/p>\n The surge in walks and batting average better aligns with his best career numbers back in 2023 when he was with the Athletics. That season he played in 132 games and slashed .254\/.309\/.345 but only drew 20 walks. That year he had a chase rate of 34.5%. So far this season the chase rate is trending down a bit to 32.8%. It\u2019s a small change, but it speaks to a little more plate discipline for the part-time outfielder. <\/p>\n The Marlins will take any bit of intangible value they can get for Ruiz because he was cheap and he has one asset one can\u2019t teach \u2014 speed. His sprint speed of 29.8 is in the 99th percentile in Major League Baseball. Miami needs him to do enough at the plate \u2014 whether it\u2019s drawing a walk or get the occasional hit \u2014\u00a0so he can get on base. He\u2019s one of the few players on the team that can get from first to second on his own. He\u2019s been on base 16 times and has nine stolen bases so far. <\/p>\n It\u2019s a weapon the Marlins haven\u2019t been able to use enough this season. But, if he keeps drawing walks more consistently and the batting average goes up, then acquiring Ruiz will look better and better. <\/p>\n![\"Miami](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/01ktfk7j2ejbhw0n5ksr.jpg\" "\\"Miami")
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