Justin Ruggiano #20

Justin and his wife Shelly have two children, Brooks Ryan (7/30/09) and Ava (3/26/12)...They reside in Heath, TX, located northeast of Dallas, and assisted in the relief efforts for the victims of the devastating 12/26/15 tornados in North Texas...Graduated from Texas A&M in 2004 as an agricultural and life sciences major...his family owns a ranch in Fort Stockton, TX...his younger brother Brian was a catcher at Texas A&M and played in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization and in independent baseball from 2008-11...Played two seasons (2003-04) at Texas A&M University in College Station...led the Aggies in doubles (17) and triples (4) in 2003...Spent his first two collegiate years at Blinn Jr. College in Brenham, TX...earned all-star honors his senior year at L.C. Anderson High School in Austin, TX (graduated 2000)...played in the Texas High School All-Star Game at then The Ballpark in Arlington in 2000...was a middle infielder and pitcher for his first three high school seasons before moving to the outfield as a senior.

2016

Began the season with Texas and made the Rangers' Opening Day roster...played one game with Texas (April 6 vs. Seattle) and went 1-4 with an RBI...Batted .226 (37-164) with 10 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 23 RBI with Round Rock (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League before being released by Texas on July 28...Had two separate stints on the seven-day disabled list for a strained groin while in Round Rock...Signed by the Mets as a Major League free agent on July 30...made his Mets' debut that night vs. Colorado and went 1-3...Was on the 15-day disabled list from August 2-August 18 with a left hamstring strain and again from August 27-31 with a left shoulder injury... transferred to the 60-day DL on August 31...Went 3-5 with a grand slam and two runs scored on August 18 at San Francisco...was his second career grand slam (first since September 11, 2015 at Arizona off Allen Webster)...Ruggiano's grand slam, which came off the Giants' Madison Bumgarner, was his first home run since homering off Bumgarner on September 29, 2015 at AT&T Park as a member of the Dodgers.

2015

Combined to bat .248 (31-125) with 6 HR and 15 RBI in 57 games with Seattle and LA Dodgers…was 7-for-16 (.438) as a pinch hitter, the third highest average in the majors among PH's with at least 15 AB: .500 (10-20) -- Gerardo Parra, Milwaukee-Baltimore and .500 (8-16) -- Drew Stubbs, Colorado-Texas…committed one error in 58 TC in 47 total games in the outfield.

2014

2013

Spent the entire season with the Miami Marlins, hitting .222 (94-for-424) while setting career marks with 128 games, 49 runs, 94 hits, 18 home runs, 41 walks and 15 stolen bases... Batted .303 (43-for-142) in 40 day games compared to a .181 average (51-for-282) in 88 night games... Went 16-for-49 (.327) with four homers and 10 RBI in 17 August games after hitting .069 (4-for-58) in July... Hit .248 (33-for-133) against southpaws compared to a .210 mark (61-for-291) against righties... His first 12 homers of the season came on the road, tying Derrek Lee's franchise record in 2000 for most consecutive home runs hit on the road to begin a season... Clubbed solo homers in consecutive games, April 19-20 at Cincinnati.... Set career-highs in runs scored (four) and hit by pitches (two) in May 5th's 14-2 win in Philadelphia... Snapped a club record 0-for-42 hitless skid, August 14 at Kansas City, going 3-for-4 with a RBI... Recorded three multi-homer games; May 5 at Philadelphia, June 23 at San Francisco and August 16 vs. San Francisco... On August 16, became the only player in club history to have multi-homer games in consecutive contests against same opponent (Giants).... Posted a season-high six-game hitting streak twice, August 20-29 and September 14-19.

2012

Acquired from Houston for Minor League catcher Jobduan Morales on May 26 and assigned to Triple-A New Orleans. Had contract selected on May 27...Did not play after September 21 due to a right shoulder sprain...Led Marlins in average and OBP...Started 68 of 76 games beginning on June 20. From that date until his last game on September 21, batted .313 (81-for-259), which ranked 12th in National League over that span...Set new single-game career high on Aug. 28 vs. Washington with four hits...On July 13 vs. Washington, set career high with three stolen bases. Was first Marlin to accomplish feat since Emilio Bonifacio on July 10, 2011 against Houston...Had career-long 10-game hitting streak from June 27-July 7. Batted .486 (18-for-37) with three doubles, four homers and 11 RBI over that span, with a .512 on-base percentage and a 1.404 OPS. Had seven multi-hit games during that stretch...During that hitting streak, homered in three consecutive games, from July 2-4 at Milwaukee...His .400 average (20-for-50) in June qualified for first in NL, as did his .740 slugging percentage. Was second in OBP (.475), behind Joey Votto (.487)...Hit first career pinch-hit home run on June 1 at Philadelphia.

2011

Started the season at Triple A Durham but was selected on May 20 and spent the rest of the season on the Rays Major League roster...appeared in 46 games including 26 starts (20-LF, 5-RF, 1-CF, 1-DH)...as a starter, was 23x85 (.271) with four HR and 12 RBI...was placed on the DL on Aug 10 (retroactive to Aug. 7) with left knee bursitis, missing 23 games...went on a six-game rehab assignment with Durham and was activated on Sept. 1...compiled a career-high eight-game hitting streak from June 6-14...hit .484 (15x31) with two 2B, two HR and six RBI during the streak...hit .308 (45x146) for Durham with six HR, 30 RBI, 11 2B and 11 SB...at the time of his call-up ranked third in the IL in RBI and T-4th in SB...appeared in 37 games between LF, CF and RF, seeing the most action in left...named IL Player of the Week for May 2-8 after hitting .476 (10x21) with one HR, nine RBI, five SB...played in 23 games during Spring Training for the Rays as a non-roster invite, spending time at all three outfield positions and DH...hit .263 (10x38) with one HR, 10 RBI, two 2B, three 3B and two SB.

2010

Spent the entire season with Triple-A Durham, aside from a four-day stint in the majors in June...was on the active roster for 3 games, but did not play...last appeared in a major league game in 2008, when he had four stints with the Rays...Was recalled June 12 when Gabe Kapler was placed on the 15-day DL with a right hip flexor strain...was optioned to Durham on June 16 when Jason Bartlett returned from his rehab assignment and was reinstated from the DL...Led the Bulls with 117 games played (63-RF, 29-CF, 26-LF, 1-3B) and 457 at-bats...his 77 runs scored ranked 4th in the International League...ranked among Rays organizational leaders with 15 homers (tied for 4th) and 70 RBI (4th)...Had his fourth straight season of 20-plus steals and 10-plus home runs for Durham...Stole 24 bases in 30 attempts (80 percent)...stole 4 bases on June 1 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees)...Recorded 10 outfield assists, 3rd in the IL...Missed two weeks in May with a left bicep injury...Hit .447 (17-for-38) for the Rays during spring training and tied the club's spring record with 3 triples...played all three outfield positions...had 3 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB and 7 runs scored...Played for Yaquis de Obregon of the Mexican Winter League, appearing in 5 games.

2009

Spent the entire season at Triple-A Durham where he led the Bulls in games (123) and steals (23) and was 2nd in runs (71) and RBI (72)...recorded his 3rd straight 20-steal season at Durham...Started at all 3 outfield positions...His 147 strikeouts ranked 2nd in the International League...Batted a club-high .450 (9-20) in the Bulls first round playoff series against Louisville (Reds) including 3-for-4 with 2 RBI in the 5th and deciding game, a 5-3 win that put the Bulls into the final round...Was hitting .189 on May 1...batted .265 over the remainder of the season...On May 9 at Gwinnett (Braves) hit 3 HR with 6 RBI in Durham's 7-0 win...2 of his HR came off St. Petersburg native Todd Redmond...the next day in a 4-3 win over Gwinnett he homered off Tommy Hanson, who went on to finish 3rd in the NL Rookie of the Year voting...Had a pair of 2-out, game-winning singles in extra innings 3 days apart...on June 28 at Columbus (Indians) his single in the 13th gave the Bulls an 8-7 win...on June 26 at Toledo (Tigers) his 2-run single the 15th delivered a 5-3 win...In a 6-day span he had 3 big games against ML veterans: on Aug 13 at Gwinnett, singled twice off former 20-game winner Tim Hudson in a 9-5 win; on Aug 16 vs. Scranton Wilkes- Barre (Yankees), homered and singled off former 20-game winner Russ Ortiz in a 5-2 win; and on Aug 18 vs. Charlotte (White Sox), he doubled and scored off rehabbing former Cy Young winner Jake Peavy in a 5-2 win...Hit a pair of grand slams: April 28 vs. Charlotte in a 14-7 win and June 19 vs. Pawtucket (Red Sox) off Michael Bowden...Following the season played for Caracas in the Venezuelan Winter League.

2008

In 2008, the rookie had four stints with the Rays: April 9-24, May 2-4, June 4-23 and his longest stint Aug 11 through season's end... got his final call-up when Evan Longoria was placed on the disabled list...Appeared in 43 games, including 14 starts (8-RF, 5-LF, 1-CF)...On Aug 27 vs. TOR preserved the Rays 1-0 win with a leaping catch at the left field wall for the last out of the game...that game kept the Rays 3-1/2 games ahead of 2nd-place Boston and started them on a 5-game win streak...Launched his first career home run June 21 vs. HOU off Wandy Rodriguez...Had 2 OF assists June 9 at LAA from CF, tying a club record...5th rookie to do it in club history (Young, Dukes, Gomes, Baldelli)...In just 66 games with Durham he compiled 11 homers and 20 stolen bases...Named by Baseball America as having the organization's best outfield arm.

2007

Tewnty-five year-old outfielder was selected from AAA Durham on Sep 19 with Carl Crawford unable to play the remainder of the season with a left groin strain ... Appeared in 7 games, 3 starts (2-CF, 1-LF), his first action at the major league level ... Made his major league debut as a pinch-runner in the 9th inning on Sep 19 at Los Angeles ... His first ML plate appearance was Sep 21 vs. Boston, striking out as a pinch-hitter in the 9th against Eric Gagne ... Recorded his first major league hit Sep 26 at home off the Yankees' Joba Chamberlain (single) ... was his 2nd big league AB ... All three starts came in the season-ending series at Toronto ... went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI in the season finale victory ... Named Durham Player of the Year as he led the Bulls in nearly every offensive category with a .309 average, 127 games, 482 at-bats, 78 runs scored, 149 hits, 29 doubles, 20 homers, 73 RBI, 53 walks and 26 stolen bases ... Finished 6th in the International League in hitting ... was 3rd in hits, runs and on-base percentage (.386) and finished 4th with a .502 slugging pct. ... Became the first Triple-A Durham Bulls player to record 20 or more home runs and stolen bases in the same season and the first Durham player overall since Ron Gant in 1986 ... Also hit .367 in the Bulls postseason run with 4 HR in their 8 games ... Is a career .307 hitter in 417 minor league games, with 55 home runs and 70 stolen bases ... Originally selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 25th round of the 2004 June Draft out of Texas A&M University ... Acquired by the Rays as a player to be named later from the Los Angeles Dodgers along with RHP Jae Seo and C Dioner Navarro in exchange for LHP Mark Hendrickson, C Toby Hall and cash considerations on June 27, 2006.

2006

Began the season with Double A Jacksonville in the Dodgers organization and joined Double A Montgomery after his inclusion as the player to be named in a five-player June 27 trade (joined the Biscuits July 24)...combined to hit .280 (112x400) between the two Southern League clubs and ranked among the league's top three in OBP (tied for 2nd), slugging (3rd), runs scored (3rd) and extra-base hits (3rd)...recorded a .442 OBP and .630 SLG for the Biscuits...reached base safely via hit or walk in his first 26 games and in 30 of 31 overall...in his first full month with the organization, he was named Rays minor league Player of the Month for August, having hit .348 (31x89) with 13 2B and 27 RBI.

2005

Played his first full pro season in 2005 and reached Double-A...named to the Florida State League midseason All-Star Team as a member of the Class-A Vero Beach Dodgers and earned a July 4 promotion to Jacksonville, where he helped the Suns to the Southern League Championship...combining both levels, hit .323 (130-for-403) with 15 HR, 66 RBI, 25 2B, 24 SB, .409 OBP and a .521 SLG.

2004

Hit .329 (51x155) with seven home runs and 36 RBI in 46 games with rookie level Ogden in the Pioneer League.