Esteury Ruiz Joins Dodgers After Impressive Stolen Base Season

The Oakland Athletics have made a significant move by trading standout outfielder Esteury Ruiz to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning World Series champions. This trade, announced on Wednesday, sees Ruiz, who led the American League with an impressive 67 stolen bases in 2023, heading to the Dodgers in exchange for minor league right-hander Carlos Duran.

Ruiz's remarkable achievement not only set a new AL rookie record but also surpassed Kenny Lofton's previous record of 66 stolen bases, which was established in 1992 while he played for the Cleveland Indians. Despite facing challenges last season due to wrist and knee injuries, which limited him to just 29 games, Ruiz showcased his potential during his first full major league season, hitting .254 with five home runs, 24 doubles, a triple, and 47 RBIs.

After being designated for assignment by the A's on Sunday, Ruiz is set to join Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Athletics made this announcement just before their series finale against the Chicago Cubs at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

To accommodate Ruiz on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred right-hander Kyle Hurt to the 60-day injured list, making room for the speedy outfielder.