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SALT LAKE CITY — Real Salt Lake's upward trajectory this season took a major hit Monday when the team announced midfielder Pablo Ruiz underwent meniscus surgery.
The process typically requires a four to six-month recovery period, effectively ruling him out for the rest of 2023.
"This procedure repairs a severely-damaged meniscus in Pablo's right knee," RSL senior director of athlete health and performance Theron Enns said in a statement. "Typically this type of repair requires around four to six months to allow the necessary healing and return to full participation. Pablo has already begun his rehabilitation with our medical staff and we will update his progress as we enter the latter months of the season."
The non-contact injury occurred during RSL's 4-0 loss to LAFC on Aug. 8, which eliminated the team from the Leagues Cup tournament between MLS and Liga MX clubs.
The loss of Ruiz comes right as RSL is ramping up for the final stretch of the MLS season and the U.S. Open Cup semifinal against the Houston Dynamo on Aug. 23. A win against Houston and an Inter Miami win against FC Cincinnati would bring Lionel Messi to America First Field on Sept. 27 for the tournament final.
RSL is currently tied with LAFC for second in the MLS Western Conference — just 4 points behind first-place St. Louis — with 10 games left in the regular season.
Ruiz was a crucial connector in the midfield for RSL this season, bridging the gap between the defense and offense. He leads the team in assists with six and also has four goals on the season, including a 68-yard Goal of the Year candidate against D.C. United in June.
Not exaggerating here - this goal, by Pablo Ruiz, is one of the best long-distance efforts in MLS history, if we're talking 50+ yards. It honestly might be the best, given the angle, fact that he hits it on the fly, upper 90 more or less. Just ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/Gm7eZb287B
— Pablo Iglesias Maurer (@MLSist) June 18, 2023
His ability to hit pinpoint shots and passes from a great distance has been on display all season. In fact, Ruiz led all of MLS in "accurate long balls per 90 minutes" going into the Leagues Cup break last month.
Ruiz is a unique talent who will be nearly impossible to completely replace for RSL, but where should it start?
Luckily for RSL, the midfield position is an area of recent and surprising depth for the Claret and Cobalt with the transfer addition of Nelson Palacio in June and the permanent signing of Braian Ojeda at the end of July.
Ojeda settled in as Ruiz's starting partner in the midfield this season, moving 2022's breakout rookie Jasper Loffelsend to the bench. Palacio and Loffelsend will likely battle for the starting spot next to Ojeda in the midfield for the remainder of this season, with youngster Diego Luna and rookie Emeka Eneli also spending some time filling in the gaps.
RSL has its work cut out for it in the immediate future with four more matches in the month of August — only one of which is at home. The club heads to California this weekend to take on the LA Galaxy on Sunday before the Open Cup semifinal in Houston on Wednesday, followed by a home match against Houston three days later in Sandy.
