Former Phillies 1B/OF Darin Ruf homers in KBO debut

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

DAEGU, South Korea — Former Philadelphia Phillies 1B/OF Darin Ruf homered in his Korean Baseball Organization debut with the Samsung Lions Friday evening at Daegu Samsung Lions Park.

Ruf's ninth inning home run against RHP Im Ki-young proved to not be enough for the Lions, however, as they would go on to fall 7-2 to the Kia Tigers in their season opener.

The Omaha, Nebraska native started the game as the designated hitter, batting in the cleanup position. He finished 1-4 with a strikeout.




Ruf, 30, was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers this past offseason in the Phillies' acquisition of 2B/OF Howie Kendrick. To make room on the 40-man roster for second baseman Chase Utley, the Dodgers sold Ruf's contract to the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization in mid-February. Ruf will make $1.1 million this season in South Korea.

In five seasons, 286 games and 737 at-bats with the Phillies from 2012-2016, Ruf hit .240/.314/.433 with 36 home runs and 96 RBIs.

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