Ruwe, 30, was a member of the 2011 Pheasants staff and dazzled as a late season pickup for the St. Paul Saints in 2012.

With St. Paul last year, the crafty right-hander went 4-2 with a 2.68 ERA in nine starts and 67 innings pitched, helping the Saints make a late surge and nearly nab a playoff spot. Across four starts from August 8-24, Ruwe allowed only one earned run in 33 2/3 innings. The impressive stretch included a four-hit victory versus Gary SouthShore on August 13. He nearly accomplished the same again on August 24, tossing nine shutout innings against Winnipeg on four hits. He ultimately took a no-decision in a 1-0, extra-inning win.

Ruwe enters his ninth season of professional baseball, all in independent baseball. The right-hander has amassed impressive career numbers with a 60-40 record and a lifetime 4.59 ERA. He has a career strikeout-to-walk ratio over 2.5:1 with 407 strikeouts. The Sunrise, Fla., native is no stranger to the American Association. He spent his first three seasons with the Lincoln Saltdogs, appearing primarily as a reliever. He worked exclusively as a starter in the last four seasons.

As a member of the Pheasants 2011 starting rotation, Ruwe went 4-5 with a 4.62 ERA in 16 starts. He struck out 29 men and walked 20 in 99 1/3 innings pitched.

The Pheasants acquired Ruwe from St. Paul this offseason in exchange for the reversionary rights to last season’s closer Cody Evans. Evans’ contract was sold to the Toronto Blue Jays in July 2012.