Memories of Justin Ruggiano

[Edgy MD]

Signed to a minor league deal by the Giants, according to Baseball America writer Matt Eddy, via Twitter.

[G-Fafif]

With two homers on the road trip that turned the season around, Justin did just enough to be missed, which was surprising, given that his presence came from out of the blue, if not orange. Replaced Jose Reyes on the roster on Mike Piazza Night, which put him in the company of Met greats before he did a damn thing.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Caught stealing third base with Bartolo Colon batting, over-hustled a single CF and made a disastrous unsuccessful leaping catch attempt leading to a disabled list assignment all in his first ever Mets game. Later grand-slammed Bumgarner in that awful game where deGrom gave it all back.

[bmfc1]

The Giants must have signed him so he couldn't hit against Bumgarner again. Oh, that slam... perhaps the Wild Card game would have turned out differently if he was healthy and in the lineup.

[Frayed Knot]

Definitely one of the stranger trips through the 2016 season:
- is on the Rangers' OD roster, makes debut in Game #3 of the season by going 1-for-4 ... never plays for them again
- nearly three months later he surfaces with the Mets, has 6 ABs over 3 days then goes on the disabled list
- resurfaces off the DL after the minimum 15 days, goes 6-for-14 over a six day period, then goes on season-ending DL

Final line as a Met: 8 for 20 with 2 HRs, 2 BBs, 10 K's


He's now played in pieces of eight different seasons with seven different ML teams over the last ten years since being a 25th round pick 15 amateur drafts ago.
For only one of those seven teams did he get more than 250 ML PAs; four gave him fewer than 100 while an 8th club didn't give him any.
He'll turn 35 next spring hoping to up all those above numbers by one.

Life in 'The Show' (or trying to get there and stay there) is not always so glamorous.

[Guest themetfairy]

Short tenure/nice smile -

[batmagadanleadoff]

[fimg=444:2rnlg54a]https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/399/31489131800_bc841443a8_z.jpg[/fimg:2rnlg54a] [fimg=444:2rnlg54a]https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5613/31007552644_f6a257691b_b.jpg[/fimg:2rnlg54a] [fimg=444:2rnlg54a]https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5605/31007552674_55ebdd5976_b.jpg[/fimg:2rnlg54a]

Edited December 24, 2016 by Guest

[smg58]

I'd still like to see the Mets get a similar righthanded outfielder on a minor-league deal. I guess he felt his path back to the show has fewer obstacles in San Francisco.

[Zvon]

themetfairy wrote: Short tenure/nice smile -

Great pic. Permission to use if I ever get around to making a Ruggiano card.

I do seem to recall he made this unbelievable play out in right/center in what might have been his first game as a Met. If not, close to it.
I went looking for a pic because I was sure I saved one when I first came across it after the game, but all I could find is this shot, which makes me think that it may have only been a valiant effort. I know I have another of him mid flight and a .gif somewhere in my Mets library. If I come across them I'll add 'em here.

I did take notice of his determination. The guy practically flew into that wall while diving upward after he caught the ball if this is a pic of the "catch" that I'm thinking of. If he made it I would have had to add the catch to my top 10 all time catches by and outfielder.

batmagadanleadoff wrote: [fimg=444]https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5613/31007552644_f6a257691b_b.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=444]https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5605/31007552674_55ebdd5976_b.jpg[/fimg]

Also great pic on the Mets card Batmags. Was the Piazza logo only worn on one date?
Justin looked dirtier on Texas.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Zvon wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: [fimg=272]https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5613/31007552644_f6a257691b_b.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=272]https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5605/31007552674_55ebdd5976_b.jpg[/fimg] Also great pic on the Mets card Batmags. Was the Piazza logo only worn on one date?

I think that Piazza patch was a one-gamer. That's a strange picture. It looks like Ruggiano's bat is no more than a foot long and that he's choking up all the way near the fat end of the bat.

[Guest themetfairy]

Zvon wrote: Great pic. Permission to use if I ever get around to making a Ruggiano card.

Permission granted. It would be an honor!

[Zvon]

[fimg=272]https://c5.staticflickr.com/6/5613/31007552644_f6a257691b_b.jpg[/fimg] [fimg=272]https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5605/31007552674_55ebdd5976_b.jpg[/fimg] Also great pic on the Mets card Batmags. Was the Piazza logo only worn on one date? I think that Piazza patch was a one-gamer. That's a strange picture. It looks like Ruggiano's bat is no more than a foot long and that he's choking up all the way near the fat end of the bat.

Looks like he's swinging a beer bottle.

Permission granted. It would be an honor!

Thank you. An honor! lol. Don't hear that word much anymore. No my good Metfairy lady, the honor is mine. *cue dramatic sweeping bow