The Cincinnati Reds picked Arkansas outfielder Damian Ruiz with the 272nd overall pick in the ninth round of the MLB Draft on Sunday.
The slot value for that pick sits at $206,300.
Ruiz didn’t start his college career with the Razorbacks. He spent his first two seasons at Houston Christian before he transferred to Lamar for the 2025 season.
That move paid off fast. He earned Southland Conference hitter of the year honors after a season that included a .388 average, seven home runs and 46 RBI.
A big first year in Fayetteville
Arkansas landed Ruiz through the transfer portal and he stepped right into an everyday role. He started 54 games this spring, mostly in left field, and hit .309 with five home runs and 30 RBI.
He crossed the plate 51 times and racked up 60 hits, including 13 doubles.
Ruiz also showed off his speed on the bases. He swiped 16 bags in 17 tries and drew 35 walks on the year. In SEC games alone, he hit .306 with four home runs and 18 RBI across 26 contests.
He went a perfect 7-for-7 stealing bases against conference foes.
Some of his best moments came early.
He reached base in 13 straight plate appearances during a four-game stretch in mid-February, the longest such streak by a Hog in the Dave Van Horn coaching era.
He also homered in back-to-back games at South Carolina in March.
Part of a strong Arkansas draft class
Ruiz is the seventh former Razorback picked in this year’s draft.
He’s the third position player selected, following first-rounder Ryder Helfrick, who went No. 15 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Camden Kozeal, who went to the Miami Marlins at No. 87.
His path shows how quickly a transfer can climb draft boards.
Two years after leaving Houston Christian, Ruiz turned a record-setting run at Lamar into an everyday job at a SEC power and then into a pro contract chase with Cincinnati.
The Reds now add a proven hitter with speed and on-base skills to their farm system.
Ruiz’s blend of contact, patience and defense in the outfield gives Cincinnati a player who already has experience handling a jump in competition level.
Key takeaways
- The Reds selected Damian Ruiz in the ninth round at No. 272 overall with a slot value of $206,300
- Ruiz hit .309 with five home runs and 30 RBI in his lone season at Arkansas
- He’s the seventh Razorback and third position player picked in this year’s MLB Draft
