Norge Luis Ruíz

Norge Luis Ruíz Loyola

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut August 19, 2022

• Born March 15, 1994 in Camagüey Cuba

BR page

Biographical Information

Norge Luis Ruíz was the Serie Nacional Rookie of the Year‎ in 2012-2013; he had gone 3-3 with a 2.35 ERA for Camagüey and 6-1, 1.50 for Sancti Spiritus. He made his major league debut in 2022.

He was 8-7 with a 2.48 ERA in 2013-2014, 4-5 with a 2.28 ERA for Camaguey in the first half, 4-2, 2.73 for Holguín in the second half. For the year, he tied for 8th in the league in wins, led in strikeouts (3 ahead of Vladimir García), was second in IP (145, 6 2/3 behind Yosvani Torres), tied Lázaro Blanco for 9th in walks (46) and was 7th in ERA (between Yoanni Yera and Ismel Jiménez). He struggled in the 2014 Caribbean Series when he backed up the Leopardos de Villa Clara, allowing 5 hits, two walks and four runs (three earned) in 2 2/3 IP in a loss to the Navegantes del Magallanes.

Debuting with the Cuban national team in the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, going 2-0 with a 1.10 ERA, 7 hits and 13 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings for the Gold Medal winner. He beat the Puerto Rican national team with 8 shutout frames before Hector Mendoza wrapped it up and topped the defending champion Dominican national team in his other start. He was 9th in the event in ERA (behind 8 pitchers at 0) and led in strikeouts (two ahead of Sergio Mora).

In 2014-2015, he was the losing pitcher in the Cuban All-Star Game. He had a 4-2, 2.37 record for Camaguey in the first half. They again failed to qualify for the second half and he finished the year with Holguín (3-4, 4.53). He was 4th for the season in strikeouts (88, between Jonder Martínez and Torres) and 8th in ERA (3.26, between Martínez and Yera).

Ruíz was 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA as a reinforcement for the Vegueros de Pinar del Río in the 2015 Caribbean Series, losing a start to the Gigantes del Cibao but beating the unbeaten Caribes de Anzoátegui in relief in the semifinals with four shutout frames in a 8-4 comeback win as Cuba won its first Caribbean Series in the Castro era. His 14 hits allowed did lead the Series, two ahead of Anthony Vasquez.

He pitched three seasons in Cuba, going a combined 24-17, 2.55 in 60 games (55 starts) before defecting and spending some time in a Haitian prison with Cionel Perez and his father.

On December 23, 2016, he signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics that included a signing bonus of $2 million.

Sources

• Beisbolcuano
• Baseballdecuba
• 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games website
• Caribbean Series

Related Sites

• Norge Ruiz on mlb.com
• BR Minors page