Ruiz homers in 1st game since birth of child

BALTIMORE -- Back in the Orioles' clubhouse this weekend, Rio Ruiz returned to the team after a brief Minor League stint -- and with a new biggest fan. Ruiz entered Saturday's 23-2 loss as a pinch-hitter and promptly hit a solo home run with his infant son, Luca James, watching for the first time, alongside Ruiz's wife, Michelle.

“Daddy life ain’t no joke,” the first-time father said. “She’s crushing being a mom. It makes my life a lot easier, and takes a lot of things off my mind when I get to the field.”

The club’s Opening Day third baseman, Ruiz isn’t the only Orioles player to become a father this season. Nate Karns and Hanser Alberto have as well, while Paul Fry and Jace Peterson are currently expecting. But from a logistical standpoint, Ruiz faced different circumstances than most.

Luca was born on July 27 at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, two days after Ruiz was sent to the Minors for the first time this season. The team was in Arizona at the time; Ruiz flew back across the country knowing his life would soon change even further.

At the time of the optioning, it was reported by several outlets the Orioles demoted Ruiz so he could attend Luca’s birth. But multiple sources told MLB.com that Ruiz would’ve been placed on the paternity list if that were the case, characterizing the real reason as performance based. Ruiz hadn’t started any of the club’s previous three games at the time, and was hitting .238 with a .640 OPS.

“The day I got optioned, I was able to fly back,” Ruiz said. “I was going to take two of the three option days and try to play on the third. On the second day, everything started happening.”

It was at that point that the Orioles stepped in, allowing Ruiz to go to Double-A Bowie instead of Triple-A Norfolk to be closer to his family. He played two games at Bowie and three at Norfolk before being recalled Wednesday night, as the Orioles were in need of an extra bench player with DJ Stewart (concussion) suddenly sidelined. Right-hander David Hess was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

“I can’t thank the front office and the regime here [enough] for letting me go to Bowie for a couple days, just so I could still stay at home and stay with him for a little,” Ruiz said. “It was weird. I only had my son and my wife on my mind the first couple days. Once we got into a routine, got comfortable with leaving them and realized everything would be OK, I was fine to be back playing.”

Ruiz’s immediate stay in Baltimore could be brief, with the club in need of outfield help and preparing to activate Stewart off the injured list next week. Even if that’s the case, he’s bound to be back soon, and by September at the latest. Originally a fourth-round MLB Draft pick of the Astros in 2012, Ruiz was the first player acquired by Mike Elias last winter after Elias took over as executive vice president/general manager. The 25-year-old remains very much in the organization's plans, thanks to his plus glove at third and a bat they believe will come around with everyday playing time.

“Overall, I just want to be more consistent in the sense of barreling balls,” Ruiz said.

From the trainer's room

• Three days after he suffered a concussion after being struck in the head by a fly ball, Stewart reported to Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday symptom-free, manager Brandon Hyde said. Stewart has resumed running and is scheduled to start baseball activity on Sunday, per Hyde. The Orioles do not expect Stewart to miss more than the minimum seven days, making him a candidate to return when eligible by the middle of next week.

• The timeline is more delayed for Dwight Smith Jr., who has been on the IL since July 30 with a left calf strain. The Orioles originally hoped Smith would be ready to begin a rehab assignment this upcoming week. Instead, he will travel with the club to New York and Boston to continue receiving treatment, with an eye toward getting in Minor League games the following week. Anthony Santander, Jace Peterson and Hanser Alberto have seen reps in left field with Smith and Stewart both sidelined.