West Palm Beach - Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz is entering this season with a point to prove. "I was really disappointed with my season last year," he said. "It wasn’t good, you know? I wasn’t happy.” This honesty reflects the drive within him. And with good reason. Ruiz's 2024 season was, statistically, a struggle. Ruiz got off to a miserable start, and by mid-May, his .141/.186/.207 slash line and .392 OPS were the lowest among 270 regular major league hitters.

He slowly got himself back on track, but even a halfway decent second half, which included a .414 slugging percentage after July 1, wasn’t enough to salvage the entire season. His final stats told the story: a .229/.260/.359 slash line, 21 doubles, 13 homers, 57 RBIs, and a .619 OPS that ranked 166th out of 169 major leaguers with at least 450 plate appearances. This performance fueled his off-season dedication and desire for redemption. Instead of dwelling on the past, the focus has shifted to the future, and the young catcher is embracing his role as a frontline player.

"You can't do anything about the past," says Nationals Manager Dave Martinez today during his press conference down in West Palm Beach. "You learn from what you've done, but understand why you're here." Ruiz is here because he's a talented catcher, signed to a contract that reflects his potential. Entering Spring Training, he's shown a renewed sense of ownership, becoming more vocal, holding meetings with fellow catchers, and actively communicating with pitchers. He understands the team needs him, and he's determined to take control.

The question arises: does the contract provide security, or does it add pressure? For Ruiz, it seems to be the latter. He's driven to prove he's worthy of the investment. But the message from Martinez is clear: "Don't try to live up to the hype of making a lot of money. Just go out there and play baseball the way you've played your whole life."

Ruiz has a history of success, both in the minor leagues and in glimpses at the big league level. His second halves of previous seasons have consistently been stronger, particularly in areas like throwing out runners. Last year, despite his struggles, he dedicated himself to improving in this area, and the results started to show.

Now, the focus is on his hitting. The Nationals coaching staff, working with Ruiz, is helping him understand his strengths at the plate. The goal is to identify the pitches he hits best and focus on those, trusting that other aspects of his game will fall into place. "We try to find what guys are good at, make them the best at that, and it seems like everything else will clean itself up," explains Martinez.

General Manager Mike Rizzo echoed this sentiment, noting that Ruiz is in "terrific shape, probably the best shape he’s been coming into camp." He's been working tirelessly with the coaching staff to address areas for improvement. While he's still a young player learning the nuances of catching at the highest level, his dedication and newfound focus, fueled by his own disappointment with last season, suggest that Keibert Ruiz is poised to make a significant impact this season. He's embracing his role as a frontline catcher, and he's ready to show the league what he's capable of.