Benedictine University Mesa

Sam Ruchala, a baseball player from Tinley Park, Illinois, has built a strong foundation in the sport. He was a two-year varsity player at Victor J. Andrew High School, where he showcased his talent and dedication to the game. Ruchala continued his baseball career at Spoon River College before joining Benedictine University Mesa for the 2025 season. As he embarks on his first year with BENU, he looks to make a significant impact on the team. In the 2025 season, Ruchala appeared in 20 games, starting 19, and posted a .317 batting average with 19 hits, 15 runs, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, and 14 RBIs in 60 at-bats. He also recorded 5 walks, 2 hit-by-pitches, and 22 strikeouts, finishing with a .388 on-base percentage and a .483 slugging percentage. Defensively, he tallied 24 putouts, no assists, and 2 errors for a .923 fielding percentage.