Last Chance in Jeopardy?

Darin Ruf gave hints in the mid 2010s that he might become an important Phillies player. The Omaha native showed impressive home run power, but struck out in more than a third of his plate appearances (an ugly 36.3%). His progress wasn't helped by being stuck behind the expensive but declining Ryan Howard. After spending parts of five seasons in the majors -- even after Howard retired -- Ruf fell behind in the organization's pecking order, with the younger and more promising Rhys Hoskins and Dylan Cozens the new apples of the Phanatic's eye.

A winter 2017 trade to the Dodgers, didn't provide a path back to the show. Instead, he signed with Samsung in the Korean Baseball Organization, where he smacked 86 homers over three seasons, hitting .290 or better each year.

That led to one more big league chance: the Giants gave him a minor league contract and invitation to spring training in Arizona. Making the most of this chance, Ruf was hitting .429 with three homers and five doubles in 14 games when everything went on pause March 12th.

Had the season begun as planned, Ruf looked likely to make the San Francisco roster. Now two months from turning 34, is he a promising quick fix for a rebuilding club which lucked into a Cinderella story a year ago with Mike Yastrzemski -- or someone, who despite the nice numbers, could block out some Giants prospects who are more likely to contribute three or four years down the road?

That's a decision Gabe Kapler and Farhan Zaidi will make once plans for 2020 are finalized. If they're finalized.