Where Are They Now: Bruce Ruffin

BRUCE RUFFIN - BASEBALL (1983 NATIONAL CHAMPION):

The Texas 1983 National Championship baseball team was honored at the Texas versus West Virginia game on Saturday evening. Among the players that were honored was former Texas left-handed pitcher Bruce Ruffin.

Ruffin was selected in the 1985 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies in the second round.  Ruffin played for the Phillies from 1986-91, then played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1992 before finishing his career with the Colorado Rockies from 1993-97.

Ruffin finished his MLB career with 843 strikeouts and a 4.19 career ERA.

Ruffin now enjoys "playing as much golf as he can and following what his kids are doing." Bruce Ruffin's son Chance Ruffin has followed in his father's footsteps. Chance played for Texas from 2008-2010 before being drafted in 2010 by the Detroit Tigers in the first round. He was traded to Seattle in Aug. 2011 and is now in the Seattle Mariners organization, playing in Double-A.

"Chance came out of Texas as a reliever and the Mariners are trying to turn him back into a starter," Bruce Ruffin said. "I try to give him some tips and pointers along the way and let him live his dream and help him anyway I can."

Bruce Ruffin's time at Texas was a great influence on his life. "We talked about this last night with the other players, each of us carry a winning attitude and confidence. Whatever role in life we go down, staying in the game or playing out a career in the major league or working in a business—everyone seems very successful and it carries over from playing and attending the University of Texas."