Next stop for Phillies' Ruf: Japan?

Darin Ruf's baseball career may take him to the Land of the Rising Sun, as Ruf said he noticed a large presence of Japanese scouts this season during his 20-home-run campaign at triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Ruf joined the Phillies on Friday afternoon, but the remaining 28 games could prove to be his final chapter with the organization.

Ruf can no longer be optioned to the minor leagues, and instead must be designated for assignment. His winter will be uncertain, as the Phillies could opt to keep Ruf for insurance at first base or he could become a minor-league free agent. If that happens, Ruf could try to latch on with another team or head to Japan and its league that caters to American sluggers like him.

"Every player's goal is to play over here as long as you can," Ruf said. "But, over the last three-and-a-half months, those teams over there heavily scout pretty good triple-A players. I was having a good year and I think they took notice of that. Whatever happens, happens. You don't rule anything out in your career because you don't want to miss out on valuable opportunities that would set yourself up and your family up for a nice future."

Ruf spent almost the last four months as an everyday player with the IronPigs. It was his most consistent role in three years and he flourished. Ruf batted .294 with an .885 OPS in 350 at-bats.

But as Ruf stayed in Allentown, he began to assume that a major-league promotion was out of the picture. He was producing for three-and-a-half months and had yet to be rewarded. Maybe, Ruf figured, he would get a shot at the majors after the International League playoffs. Instead, Ruf learned this week that he was headed to Philadelphia.

"Very surprised," said Ruf, who started in left field.

Ruf began the season with the Phillies in what was expected to be a platoon role with Ryan Howard, similar to the job that Tommy Joseph currently has. Ruf started just 12 of the team's first 35 games. He struggled as a pinch-hitter and was sent to triple A after batting .158 with no home runs in 57 at-bats.

"That was tough," Ruf said. "It kind of opens your mind. I would tell myself some days, 'Man, I led Major League Baseball in OPS against lefthanded pitching last year, and I can't find a job.' I'm thinking to myself 'How is that? Why is it?' You just have to remind yourself that it's a long process, and hopefully if I take care of business here, I'll be back."

Along with Ruf, the Phillies promoted righthander Colton Murray and lefthander Patrick Schuster to give the team some needed bullpen help. . . . Andres Blanco was activated off the disabled list after missing nearly six weeks with a fractured finger. . . . Cameron Rupp was held out of the lineup for the second straight game even though the Phillies were off Thursday. . . . Vince Velasquez will start Saturday against John Gant.