Justin Ruggiano
From BR Bullpen
Justin Marshall Ruggiano
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 205 lb.
- School Texas A&M University
- Debut September 19, 2007
- Born April 12, 1982 in Austin, TX USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Two months after his major league debut, Justin Ruggiano was a star for Team USA in the 2007 Baseball World Cup. A late addition after Jay Bruce pulled out, Ruggiano hit .333/.432/.633. His three homers tied Yulieski Gourriel, Andy LaRoche, Chia-Hsian Hsieh and Mike Saunders for the tourney lead. He reached base all four times and homered in the US's lone loss, 6-2 to the Italian national team. He homered twice and drove in five in the win over the host Taiwan national team that clinched first place in Pool A for the USA. He was 3 for 4 with a RBI and had the most hits in the Gold Medal game as the US beat the Cuban national team, 6-3. It was the first time the US had ever beaten Cuba in the Gold Medal game of the Baseball World Cup. Ruggiano did not make the tourney All-Star team as teammate Colby Rasmus, Australian CF Trent Oeltjen and Cuban LF Frederich Cepeda were picked as the All-Star outfield.
