Waldorf, MD- The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have announced their signing of Jose Julio-Ruiz.
It’s not easy playing a full season on the road, just ask the Atlantic League Road Warriors in 2018. The team without a home went 29-97 last year, but one of the few bright spots from the sour campaign was Jose Julio-Ruiz. The left-handed hitter posted a team-best batting average, .299, not to mention knocking in the second most RBI on the team, 33, in just 83 games played.
He joins the Blue Crabs for his 15th season of professional baseball, and his fourth in the Atlantic League. Julio-Ruiz began his pro baseball career in the Cuban National Series, a league he would play in for five seasons before coming to the U.S. in 2010 to play in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He jumped directly to the Double-A level in his affiliated debut with the Montgomery Biscuits that season, but after the Rays failed to resign him come the end of the season, the Texas Rangers immediately swooped into to pick him up and sent him to their Spring Training.
The native of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba first dipped his toes into the Atlantic League in 2013 with the Blue Crabs and would return the following season. Julio-Ruiz makes his big return to Waldorf in late May and will look to provide a spark to the Blue Crabs lineup.
Catch Julio and the rest of the Blue Crabs when they return home to Regency Furniture Stadium this Friday, May 24th, with the first pitch at 6:35 PM. Friday marks the first of a seven-day, seven-game homestand.
About the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
The Blue Crabs play 140 regular season games in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs. The Blue Crabs call Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland home. The 12thfranchise season will begin April 2019. For more information on the SOMD Blue Crabs, please call 301-638-9788 or visit http://www.somdbluecrabs.com for more information.
About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)
The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 40 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 70 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment.
For more information, please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.
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