Maui 3B Keoni Ruth Acquired by Philadelphia Phillies
July 31, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL) News Release
Maui Na Koa Ikaika 3B Keoni Ruth Acquired by Philadelphia First Player from Golden Baseball League's Hawaiian Team to go to an MLB Club
Maui, HI - The Golden Baseball League announced today that 3B Keoni Ruth of the Maui Na Koa Ikaika has had his contract acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies. The native of Hawaii has already been flown to New Jersey and is joining the Lakewood BlueClaws, of the South Atlantic League, in the Phillies farm system.
Ruth, who was a standout player at Kamehameha Schools Oahu, played in 48 games for Na Koa this season, batting .299 (58-for-194) with three home runs and a team-best 30 RBIs. The right-hander from Aiea was tied for the team lead with three triples, second in runs scored with 32 and tied for second on the squad with 13 stolen bases as Na Koa went 34-21 with him on the roster. He had reached base safely for the last 20 straight games for the GBL first half South Division champions
Ruth, who played college baseball at Concordia and the University of San Diego, where he earned All-West Coast Conference honors in 2007, was originally drafted out of high school by the Kansas City Royals, again in 2006 during his junior year of college by the Chicago Cubs in the 17th round and one year later by the San Diego Padres in the 22nd round.
He is the first player from the Maui team to be picked up by a Major League organization, and is the 11th GBL player this season to have his contract purchased by a big league club -- the 2nd by the Phillies in the last week.
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