The Staten Island FerryHawks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) today have announced the signing of outfielder Ben Ruta, a West Windsor, New Jersey native and former New York Yankees farmhand.
A 2106 30th round MLB Amateur Draft pick of the Yankees, Ruta played in short-season Single-A Staten Island that same season, hitting one home run and driving in nine RBI in 83 at-bats in 25 games.
The 27-year-old batted .253 with 24 longballs and 172 RBI in 1460 at-bats in 403 contests across five seasons of minor league baseball. Ruta reached as high as the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, in the San Diego Padres’ system, last campaign.
Ruta played colligate baseball at Division I Wagner College in Staten Island.
— Jerry Del Priore
Brooklyn Sports World/The Sports Scope 