Johnny Ruffin facts for kids

Johnny Renando Ruffin, born on July 29, 1971, is a former professional baseball pitcher from the United States. He played for six seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). His MLB teams included the Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Florida Marlins. Johnny also played one season in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes and one season in South Korea for the SK Wyverns.

Johnny Ruffin's Baseball Journey

Starting His Professional Career

Johnny Ruffin began his baseball journey when he was chosen by the Chicago White Sox. This happened in the 4th round of the 1988 MLB draft. He started playing professionally with their rookie team, the Gulf Coast League White Sox, in 1988.

Playing in Major League Baseball

Ruffin made his big league debut with the Cincinnati Reds. He played for the Reds from 1993 to 1996. After his time with the Reds, he went to play baseball in Japan. He later returned to MLB. He joined the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2000. In 2001, he played for the Florida Marlins.

Playing Overseas

In 1997, Johnny Ruffin played in Japan. He was part of the Kintetsu Buffaloes team in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Later, in 2002, he played in South Korea. He joined the SK Wyverns in the KBO League.

Later Career and Recognition

Johnny Ruffin played his last season with a major league-affiliated team in 2002. This was with the Cincinnati Reds' Triple-A team, the Louisville Bats. An article from AL.com in 2016 recognized Ruffin. It named him the best athlete to come from Choctaw County, Alabama.

More About Johnny Ruffin

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Retrosheet
• Career statistics and player information from Korea Baseball Organization