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The Philadelphia Phillies have purchased the contract of first baseman Darin Ruf from Double-A Reading, reports Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly:
Phillies make it official. Calling up Darin Ruf tomorrow. Mike Stutes goes to 60-day DL. Ruf was Eastern Lg. MVP
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) September 10, 2012
A twentieth-round pick out of Creighton University in 2009, Ruf has put up stellar numbers at each level he has played but is a bit on the older side for his level. The 26-year-old won this year's Eastern League MVP by hitting .317/408/.620 and mashing thirty-eight home runs in one hundred thirty-nine games, breaking Ryan Howard's single-season home run record with the club.
The Phillies have tried playing Ruf in left field recently to make room for him on the team at the major league level, and expect him to continue the outfield experiment during winter ball in Venezuela. In his first big league stint, Ruf could see some time at both first base and in the outfield.
Right-handed reliever Michael Stutes was transferred to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster for Ruf.