Cameron Rupp Learning Finer Points of Catching From Carlos Ruiz

Now into his second full Major League season, Cameron Rupp has emerged as the Phillies’ everyday catcher over Carlos Ruiz and is proving to be a key piece to the team’s rebuild.
 
Through 60 games, Rupp, 27, is batting .278 with nine HRs, 26 RBIs and an .805 OPS. Keep in mind that he had nine HRs and 28 RBIs all of last season in 81 games as a rookie and his batting average was more than 40 points lower.
 
Although he’s having a breakout year at the plate, Rupp has emphasized the importance of how he handles the Phillies’ pitching staff. Behind the plate, Rupp is known for his strong arm, but he works on other areas of his defense as well.
 
“I take a lot of pride in my pitch-calling,” Rupp said, following the Phillies’ 2-1 loss to the Marlins Tuesday night (see game story).
 
“I never second-guess myself. I believe in the pitches that I put down and the fingers that I put down, I believe they’re the right ones every time. If it gets hit, I’ll gladly take the blame for it. It comes with the territory and it’s something I’m learning on.”
 
The learning part hasn’t been too hard for Rupp, who is able to pick the brain of his veteran mentor Ruiz on a daily basis.
 
“We talk in between innings, after games, before games," Rupp said. "When we need to make an adjustment, he’ll ask me questions as well because he’s still trying to learn, if I’ve seen a guy that I faced in the minor leagues for a few years or vice versa.” 
 
Ruiz has taken a step back into a full-time reserve role this season, but Rupp has benefited from working with the 37-year-old Ruiz, who in his career has caught a Major League record four no-hitters and has a World Series ring.
 
“I mean, that guy knows every hitter in the National League. He knows every pitcher that he’s caught,” Rupp said. “We’re both kind of in the same situation here [this season] learning these new [pitchers], we haven’t really been with them at all. So it’s a learning process as far as learning the pitchers, but as far as game plans, scouting reports, learning how to pitch to guys who have been around a little bit longer, he knows how to do that.”
 
Ruiz is in the final guaranteed year of his contract with the Phillies, and while he’s nearing the end of his career, Rupp feels the impact that Ruiz has had on him and his own development.
 
“He’s there to help,” Rupp said of Ruiz. “It’s huge having a guy like that in your clubhouse and on your bench as well.”