Dodgers Reportedly Call Up Esteury Ruiz After Max Muncy Knee Injury

The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up center fielder Esteury Ruiz, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman and The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.

The roster move comes after Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy suffered a knee injury in Wednesday's 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Manager Dave Roberts told reporters after the game he and the team "feel optimistic" about the situation.

"And I think that our hope is that it's a sprain," Roberts said. "So obviously, for the next few days, I'm sure he'll probably be down, but again, the MRI tomorrow will show more."

Bringing Ruiz up to the big leagues at least gives the impression Muncy is headed for a stint on the injured list; the only question is how long he'll stay there.

Los Angeles added Ruiz in an April trade with the Athletics, and he has spent most of the season in Triple-A. In 66 appearances for the Oklahoma City Comets, he has eight home runs, 38 stolen bases and a .292/.394/.458 slash line.

The 26-year-old's speed was a standout skill from the moment he debuted in MLB in 2022. His 67 steals the following year were the most in the American League.

However, Ruiz has batted .243 and slugged .343 in 598 career plate appearances.

Player development has long been a strength for their Dodgers. Sure, they've maintained a high payroll throughout their run of 12 straight playoff appearances, but that success has also been fueled by taking other teams' castoffs and turning them into everyday contributors.

Maybe Ruiz discovered something at the plate during his time in Oklahoma City, and now he'll get a shot to prove his offensive game has sharpened.