By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The baseball career of former Philadelphia Phillies 1B/OF Darin Ruf has found new life overseas with the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball League.
Ruf, 31, a career .240/.314/.433 hitter with 35 home runs and 96 RBI through 286 games in the majors, is slashing .320/.410/.583 with 48 home runs and 192 RBI through 74 less games thus far in the KBO. On Tuesday, Ruf went 5-5 with three runs scored, two home runs and five RBI in the Lions' 13-2 rout of the Hanwha Eagles [Video Recap].
This season, Ruf is tied with the Eagles' Jared Hoying — formerly of the Texas Rangers — for the KBO lead in RBI, 68. Ruf lead the KBO in the category in 2017, with 124 RBI in 134 games.
Ruf joined the KBO in February 2017, when the Los Angeles Dodgers sold his $1.1 million contract. On Nov. 16, 2017, the first baseman re-signed with the Lions for 2018 on a $1.5 million deal. The Phillies dealt Ruf to Los Angeles after the 2016 season — along with INF/OF Darnell Sweeney — in exchange for 2B/OF Howie Kendrick.
