Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz hits an RBI double in his 1st MLB game in front of his parents
Washington Nationals’ James Wood (29) is greeted by Josh Bell after scoring a run on a double hit by Keibert Ruiz against Atlanta Braves pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver during the first inning of a baseball game in Washington, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Keibert Ruiz gave his parents something to cheer about the first time they got to see their son play a game in the majors.
Ruiz delivered in his first at-bat for the Washington Nationals against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night when he drove an RBI double off the right-field wall in the first inning.
Ruiz immediately waved to his parents in the crowd, who were jumping for joy and yelling after seeing the hit. His mother had filmed the at-bat on her phone.
The 26-year-old Ruiz made his big league debut in 2020 for the Los Angeles Dodgers and was playing his 450th career game in the majors. But this was the first time his parents were able to make the trip from Venezuela to see him play in person.
Ruiz added an RBI single in the fourth to help the Nationals beat the Braves 8-7 in 10 innings.
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