When recently acquired utility outfielder Justin Ruggiano was drafted by the Dodgers in 2004, Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully was only in his 54th season with the team. But even then, even as a 22-year-old aspiring major leaguer, Ruggiano knew greatness when he heard it. And while a lot of water has traveled under the bridge since being selected by the Dodgers in the 25th round of the 2004 First Year Player Draft, Ruggiano is ecstatic to finally be playing for the team that gave him his start more than a decade ago – and for, among other things, a rather interesting reason.

“It was fun, it was like a playoff atmosphere. It was my first game as a Dodger so I probably won’t ever forget that,” said Ruggiano on Wednesday afternoon after having made his Dodgers debut the night before. “I was telling my wife that I wanted to buy a DVD of the game to hear Vin Scully announce my name because it was something that I would treasure for the rest of my life. It was a really really incredible experience.”

Even though Ruggiano went 0 for 3 in his Dodgers debut on Tuesday night, he was excited to have Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully talk about him. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Ruggiano was acquired from the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations at the eleventh-hour (literally) just minutes before Monday night’s waiver trade deadline. The seven-year MLB veteran spent time with the Tampa Bay Rays (hence the Andrew Friedman connection), the Miami Marlins, the Chicago Cubs and the Mariners. He has a combined career triple-slash of .254 / .319 / .426 for an OPS of .745. In addition to his career 45 home runs and 145 RBIs, Ruggiano has an impressive .986 career fielding percentage. Although he has spent most of his career in center field, he is equally efficient as a corner outfielder. And while it is unlikely that the Austin, TX native will be included on the Dodgers playoff roster, he provides outfield depth for the Dodgers in the stretch run.

The magnitude of coming from a last place team to a playoff contender isn’t lost on Ruggiano. In fact, he relished the very thought of it.

“We’re playing for the playoffs right now,” Ruggiano said. “All of a sudden I get thrust into this team and I get to be part of it and I just feel blessed that I get to be here really. I mean, you want to do well for the fans, you want to do well for my new teammates and this organization that drafted me back in 2004. So to me it’s got a lot of meaning, it’s really close to my heart, this organization that gave me my start.”