By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
SEOUL — The once thought-to-be successor to three-time All-Star Ryan Howard at first base — Darin Ruf — has found a new home. And it's not within Major League Baseball.
According to the Yonhap News Agency, Ruf signed with the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization on Friday to a one-year deal worth $1.1 million.
Ruf, 30, had been acquired along with IF/OF Darnell Sweeney by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Nov. 11 in exchange for veteran 2B/OF Howie Kendrick.
ICYMI: Samsung Lions announced that they have signed Darin Ruf for $1.1 million https://t.co/XKzMtYcf3I pic.twitter.com/KmSW8tKFyo
— Dan Kurtz (@MyKBO) February 17, 2017
In five seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Ruf, hit .240/.314/.433 with 35 home runs and 96 RBIs over 286 games. Ruf once held the single-season home run record at Double-A Reading with 38 in 2012, however it was broken this past September by prospect Dylan Cozens (40).
Ruf's departure helps clear a 40-man roster spot for former teammate, second baseman Chase Utley. Utley re-signed with Los Angeles to a one-year deal worth $2 million plus incentives on Feb. 10.
The Omaha, Nebraska, native is scheduled to report to Lions training camp in Japan on Saturday.
