Diamond Hogs keep recruiting momentum going by landing Lamar OF Damian Ruiz

BY DUDLEY E. DAWSON

FAYETTEVILLE – The Southland Conference’s best hitter is ready to try his skills in the Southeastern Conference.

Lamar outfielder Damian Ruiz (6-1, 190) and right handed lead off hitter announced Sunday via his social media that he is headed to Arkansas after choosing the Razorbacks – whom he visited last week – over LSU and Mississippi State.

Ruiz, who is a draft eligible redshirt sophomore with two seasons of eligibility left, hit .388 last season with 7 home runs, 46 RBIs, a school-record 76 runs, 22 doubles, two triples, 14 stolen bases, 50 walks and 27 strikeouts.

He had a 32-game hitting streak in a season in which he had 224 at bats to land the league’s top hitter honor.

Playing mostly right field, he has just two errors and a .978 fielding percentage.

Ruiz, who began his college career at Houston Christian, is third outfielder and eighth overall portal transfer to join Arkansas this summer along with Missouri State’s Zack Stewart and Marshall’s Maika Nui.

The other additions are Texas Tech infielder TJ Pompey, shortstop Dylan Grego (Ball State) pitchers Jackson Wells (Little Rock), Jackson Kircher (Oklahoma) and Evan McElvain (Vanderbilt).

Photo courtesy of Lamar Athletics