Justin Ruggiano
Encyclopedia
Justin Marshall Ruggiano (born April 12, 1982, in Austin, Texas
) is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
in the Tampa Bay Rays
organization.
.
Ruggiano made his Major League Baseball
debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in . On October 19, 2007, Ruggiano was added to the roster of the United States national baseball team
to play in the 2007 Baseball World Cup
.
In 2008, he batted .197 for Tampa Bay in 76 at bats. Ruggiano became part of a historical play in the 2008 World Series when Rays manager Joe Maddon
moved Ruggiano from right field to become a fifth infielder, playing directly behind the second base bag.
During the 2010–11 offseason, Ruggiano was designated for assignment
.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
organization.
Baseball career
Ruggiano played college baseball at Texas A&MTexas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M Aggies refers to the students, graduates, and sports teams of Texas A&M University. The nickname "Aggie" is common at land-grant or "Ag" schools in many states. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...
.
Ruggiano made his Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in . On October 19, 2007, Ruggiano was added to the roster of the United States national baseball team
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
to play in the 2007 Baseball World Cup
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...
.
In 2008, he batted .197 for Tampa Bay in 76 at bats. Ruggiano became part of a historical play in the 2008 World Series when Rays manager Joe Maddon
Joe Maddon
Joseph John Maddon is the Major League Baseball manager for the Tampa Bay Rays.He previously served as interim manager of the Anaheim Angels in both 1996 and 1999. He was also a long-time bench coach for the team.-Early life and career:Maddon attended Lafayette College, where he played baseball...
moved Ruggiano from right field to become a fifth infielder, playing directly behind the second base bag.
During the 2010–11 offseason, Ruggiano was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
.