:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62747213/usa_today_10833347.0.jpg)
With an average rating of 4.9, Pablo Ruiz is our 18th-highest ranked player in 2018.
When Real Salt Lake signed Pablo Ruiz in February of 2018, Craig Waibel talked about him as a prospect for the future.
He spoke about him with a lot of confidence, however stating without equivocation on ESPN 700 that “This kid’s talented” and adding “it’s not a matter of if but when he gets on the field.” He then included the caveat that “We need to give him the time to grow.”
That said, Pablo Ruiz needs more time to grow. He gave RSL 530 minutes this season. He was unable to pick up a goal or an assist, but that was not really the expectation either. There were times when he was decent and dynamic and times when he looked out of his realm. But regardless of the disparity between his performances, you can see that he is very good on the ball and has potential to be a flashy, effective player. He just has a lot to learn about how to play in MLS.
Keep in mind, Ruiz is still 19 years old. RSL essentially discovered him while he was playing in Chile and I think it is safe to say that they made an investment for the future. The real question is how long will it take for him to blossom.