Signed with the Kansas City Royals as an undrafted free agent out of Army on March 5, 2025... commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army in May 2024 after he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point... finished his Army baseball career as the leader in numerous program record categories, including career home runs (40), career total bases (434), career RBIs (187; also Patriot League record), career games played (212), career games started (tied for first, 207), and career walks drawn (tied for first, 142)... after the 2024 season, Ruta played 13 games with the Frederick Keys of the MLB Draft League before seeing time with the Canada A's in the California Winter League... became the 24th West Point graduate to accept an opportunity with an MLB organization... in 2024, the third baseman had 15 home runs, tied for most on the Army roster, while he also compiled a team-high 1.053 OPS and drew 50 walks, a mark that led both Army and the Patriot League in 2024... Ruta was one of three Black Knights to start in all 54 games, and one of two to start each game at the same position... in 2023, he was a Patriot League Second-Team All-League member after being named the Patriot League Preseason Player of the Year... in 2022, he was a First Team All-Patriot League selection as a third baseman, ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Northeast Region, was named the Patriot League Tournament MVP and was a Hattiesburg Regional All-Tournament Team honoree... in 2021, he was named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American, Patriot League Rookie of the Year, Lubbock All-Regional Team and First Team All-Patriot League
The Yardley, PA native was born in Voorhees, NJ before moving to Pennsylvania, where he played high school baseball at Pennsbury High School and travel baseball for Team Elite/Braves Scout Team... was a USA Baseball gold medalist ... National Honors Society member... was a Law & Legal Studies major during his time as a cadet at West Point... had multiple offers to play professionally out of high school before heading to West Point... his father played football and attended John's Hopkins University and Carnegie Mellon University... was a member of Company C3 at West Point
2025
Ruta debuted with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on April 6, going 2-for-4 with a two-run double as his first professional hit at Tulsa... hit his first career home run on a two-homer day on May 18 against Tulsa