Standing an imposing 6-foot-3, 185-pounds, Landan Ruff from Parkview HS has seen his stock rise over the past few seasons, leading to a No. 24 ranking in the Class of 2013.

For a player of his size, he has shown athleticism and progression in the PBR showcases he has attended, and it hasn’t gone un-noticed by our scouts and college coaches around the Midwest. At the All State Invitations, Ruff posted a 6.90 in the 60, and a strong arm in the outfield, with a top throw of 79 mph with carry. What stood out the most, was his impressive power, using both power alleys to drive the ball hard and long with back spin carry.

In addition to his skills on the field, Ruff is a standout student. He is ranked No. 1 in his class academically with a 5.0 GPA and got a score of thirty in his first ACT attempt.

We recently caught up with Ruff to get his thoughts on his 2012 season and his outlook for the upcoming year.

PBR: Talk a little about the Parkview team from last season, and what you expect going into your senior season

Ruff: We had a good season overall.  We set the school record for wins and won our conference for the first time since 1969.  In 2013, I expect us to surpass our win total from last year and win conference and districts.

PBR: What is your biggest strength as a player?

Ruff:  I feel my biggest strengths as a player are my range in the outfield and overall knowledge of the game.

PBR: What aspect of your game do you believe needs the most improvement?

Ruff: I will improve my arm strength over the off-season.

PBR: What have are your expectations for the recruiting process?

Ruff: I’m just working hard every day and plan on visiting a few colleges soon. 

PBR: What type of program would you like to play at? What is most important to you: Caliber of program, coaching staff, academics, etc…?

Ruff:  The type of program I’m looking for is one where I can continually learn, develop as a player and contribute to the team. 

PBR: What schools are you most interested in right now, and why?

Ruff: An important aspect is a school with high academic standards and a reputable health sciences program.  After college, I plan on attending medical school to become an orthopedist. 

PBR: What were your personal goals for the 2012 season and were they met? Goals for the 2013 season?

Ruff:  My personal goals for the 2012 season were to hit over .300, minimize errors to two or fewer, attain All-Conference designation and help the team win conference; reached all goals.  My goals for 2013 are to hit over .400, with zero errors, achieve All-State designation and to help my team with conference, districts and perform well throughout the playoffs.

PBR: What team do you play for in the summer?

Ruff:  I play for the Midwest Nationals during the summer

PBR: Who is the toughest pitcher/hitter that you have faced?

Ruff:  The toughest pitchers I have faced are Trey Killian and Mike Compton.

PBR: What is your fondest memory or highlight from your 2012 baseball season (High School or Summer)?

Ruff:  My best personal memory of the 2012 High School season was my first swing of the year was a homerun. 

PBR: What is your most memorable moment in baseball so far in your life?

Ruff:  My most memorable moment in baseball so far in my life is helping Parkview win our conference for the first time in forty three years.

PBR: What are your thoughts on the implementation of BBCOR bats from both a hitting and pitching perspective?

Ruff:  From a hitting perspective, homerun numbers decreased because the ball doesn’t jump off the bat as much.  But, if you still square it up, great things can happen.

From a pitching perspective, more pitchers threw inside to jam hitters.  Those balls are not bloop hits anymore.  They are short fly balls to the infield.

To view Landan's profile, click here.