Phillies Call Up Prospect Darin Ruf

The Philadelphia Phillies have called up Darin Ruf, a 26-year-old who has spent the year at Double-A Reading.

Ruf has the nickname "Babe" thanks to his propensity for hitting home runs at an incredible rate. He's also shown to be more than just a pure power hitter with a .317 average in the Eastern League thus far. Ruf, who played collegiately at Creighton, has had an impressive season in the minors.

Ruf learned the news Sunday afternoon, making the jump from Double-A Reading after being named Eastern League Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year. Ruf led all of minor league baseball with 38 home runs in 2012, and led the Eastern League in home runs, RBI (104), total bases (303), on-base percentage (.408), slugging percentage (.620) and OPS (1.028). He was also second in batting average (.317), third in hits (155) and seventh in doubles (32).

However, Ruf doesn't appear to have much of a future in Philadelphia, according to NBCSports.com writer Craig Calcaterra:

My guess for the best case scenario: he showcases his one skill - mashing taters - by smacking a bunch of homers against expanded roster bullpens and then Philly tries to deal him to a team that has a place for a 1B/DH in his late 20s with almost zero major league experience. The Royals would have bit at that once but they don't really need it anymore. But someone will at some point, so he's worth the audition. Maybe you get a bullpen arm out of him or something.

With the season already down the tubes competitively for the Philadelphia Phillies, they might as well find out what they have in kids like Ruf.

For more on the Phillies, please be sure to check out our blog The Good Phight and SB Nation Philly for all the latest news and updates.