Carlos Ruiz

At 45 years old, Carlos Ruiz has this physical status:

Carlos Joaqun Ruiz (born January 22, 1979), also known as "Chooch"), is a Panamanian professional baseball catcher for Chiriqui in the Panama Major League.

He competed for the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Seattle Mariners in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Ruiz is 5 foot (10.78 m) tall and weighs 215 pounds (98 kg).

He bats and throws right-handed. Ruiz, a seven-year-old boy, decided to play in the major leagues after both his father and grandmother died within two weeks of each other.

He played in Minor League Baseball from 1998 to 2006, assisting in the Philadelphia farm system from 1998 to 2006.

Ruiz made his childhood dream come true by playing with the 2006 Phillies for the first time.

He battled adversity in his transition through the system, including feeling homesick, a position change, and the language barrier (he spoke Spanish), although the majority of teammates and team leaders spoke English). Ruiz played for his first full season in MLB in 2007 and then spent his remaining years in the Mariners until he departed the Mariners in 2005, electing free agency after the 2007 season.

He earned the nickname "Seor Octubre" in 2008 during his Philadelphia playoff run that culminated in victory in the 2008 World Series, beginning with a walk-off hit.

(October)

Despite being one of the team's quietest players, Ruiz was later dubbed the Phillies' "heart and soul"; he continues to be a pillar of hope and rebuke alike; he's a source of inspiration and rebuke alike to his teammates.

He was a member of the main group of players that led the Phillies to five consecutive playoff appearances from 2007 to 2011. Ruiz had his best season in 2012, posting a batting average of over.300 in his first appearance in the All-Star Game and finishing in the top 30 of the NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) polls.

For the first time in his MLB career, he started the season with a 25-game suspension for using Adderall and later spent time on the disabled list, eventually playing in fewer than 100 games for the first time in his MLB career. Ruiz is the only hitter in the NL to have four no-hitters and is one of just two catchers in the entire MLB (the other being Jason Varitek).

Early life

Ruiz grew up in David, Chiriqu, Panama, and was the oldest of three sons. His father was a police officer and his mother was an elementary school coach. Joaquin was riding his bike when a tire burst out, causing the car to crash, throwing Joaquin into a ditch and then crushing him when it fell on top of him. His grandmother died of cancer just weeks before. Ruiz became "the new father" after starting work as a waiter on a coffee farm to supplement the family's income, and by age 10, he was earning more than $100,000 a day. He also told his widowed mother that he would make it to Major League Baseball to help the family. He began attending college to obtain a degree in physical education, but he dropped out shortly after starting to play the Phillies baseball academy.

Ruiz's upbringing influenced his game-playing. His mother argued that he excelled academically, but that he would not allow him to play baseball until he did well in school. Baseball was his first passion, and he was in charge of arranging the team's games:

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Professional career

Ruiz climbed to the top of professional baseball in 1998 by attending the La Vega, Dominican Republic, where he played catcher for the first time. Despite being tempted to leave because "he looked and felt like a 10-year-old among the tall, athletic prospects surrounding him," his uncle persuaded him in a phone call to keep it. He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League (DSL) team DSL Phillies in 1999, with whom he compiled a.305 batting average, 4 home runs, and 35 runs batted in 60 games. Ruiz met Mick Billmeyer, the Phillies' minor league catching coordinator, prior to the 2000 season. Billmeyer wanted to learn Spanish while Ruiz wanted to learn English, and the two soon became bonded as Billmeyer made Ruiz into a top prospect and eventually a starting catcher. He came from America in 2000, progressing to play in the Gulf Coast League (GCL) for the GCL Phillies, and his best game in 38 games was.277. He earned his second promotion in 2001 while playing for the Lakewood BlueClaws of Class A Minor League Baseball. His results in 2001 were similar to his first two seasons, and he was promoted to the Clearwater Threshers of Class A-Advanced, with whom he spent most of the next two seasons. In 2002, he struggled at the plate, with just a.213 batting average in 92 games, but in 2003, he topped.315 in 15 games, earning another promotion.

Ruiz was with the Double-A Reading Phillies for the entire season, posting a.284 batting average and 17 home runs, the latter of which was second among catchers in the Eastern League. He knocked out 25 of 76 attempted base stealers, out of his high offensive numbers (32.9%). Ruiz first gained his nickname "Chooch" in 2004, off the track. Ruiz often muttered "chucha" (a common curse word in Panama), under his breath, and teammate Anderson Machado later began to talk about Ruiz as "chucha" (which was later shortened to "Chooch"), and the nickname's usage has grown from there. His strong play earned him another promotion in 2005 when he was with the Scranton/Wilkes Barons, and he had a higher batting average but had fewer home runs than in Reading:.300, 4 home runs, 40 RBIs in 100 games. He played for Panama in the first World Baseball Classic before the 2006 season. He was in his last season in the minor leagues in 2006. He reached.307 with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs, earning his first-star award in International League play. All year long, he bounced between Triple-A and the major league Phillies, making his MLB debut on May 6, 2006.

Ruiz was the first catcher to play in the major leagues when starting catcher Mike Lieberthal went on the DL in May 2006, and Ruiz debuted on May 6. Ruiz was sent back to the minors when Lieberthal returned. The Phillies used Sal Fasano and Chris Coste rather than recalling Ruiz when Lieberthal went back to the DL in June. He was recalled on July 4, when he faced San Diego Padres pitcher Clay Hensley for his first major league home run. He was recalled back to the minor leagues briefly before his recall on August 31—essentially a September callup. He was.261 with 3 home runs and 10 RBIs for the big leagues.

After eight seasons in the minor leagues, Ruiz rejoined the Phillies' roster on the first day of 2007. He eventually "grabbed hold of the top job [as the starting catcher] and never let go" and "was never let go." Rod Barajas was signed by the Phillies before the season because of questions over Ruiz's potential to catch, strike, and generally keep up over a full season in the major leagues, as season lengths are longer than in the minor leagues. He honed his confidence and gained the confidence of the Phillies' pitching staff, including veteran Jamie Moyer, who said, "I see a real certainty to his body words." He isn't cocky or brash. He just seems to be very secure in what's going on." Ruiz was the first Phillie to steal home after Scott Rolen in 1997. He was stealing on the front end of a double robbery in an 11–4 home win over the Cincinnati Reds on June 26, becoming the first Phillie to steal home since Scott Rolen in 1997. He appeared in 115 games over the season and was the Phillies' regular starting catcher from then on. He made only two mistakes, placing him second in total MLB catchers with at least 100 games played. He had 27 multi-hit games, 6 home runs, and 51 RBIs with a.259 batting average. He was selected to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team at the end of the season.

Ruiz's 2008 season was largely focused on defense, with particular emphasis on the pitcher.

Ruiz struggled to hit consistently throughout the season, particularly in the first half; he reached.206 with two home runs and 20 RBIs from the start of the season to July 11. Nonetheless, due to his chemistry with the pitching team (pitchers' highest run average when throwing to him was 3.56), as well as a vote of confidence from manager Charlie Manuel, he was secure in his position. He had a multi-hit game against the New York Mets in late July, which may have helped him get out of his slump. In the end, he hit.219 with 4 home runs and 31 RBIs during the regular season.

Despite his appearances on the plate during the regular season, Ruiz was instrumental in the Phillies' postseason success. After the Philadelphia Phillies clinched the 2008 National League Championship Series, he said the thrill of winning a pivotal baseball game that clinched the series, "happened to me," noting the moment's atmosphere and confirming the hard work he had put in over the years. Ruiz's ground ball brushed the third base line for a walk-off infield single in game 3 of the 2008 World Series, the first in MLB history. "I heard them yelling," Ruiz said. "Okay, it's over," I said at the time, 'Okay, it's over.' I'll win." The Phillies won the World Series for the first time since 1980, the last of which began on October 27 and ended on October 29 after it was postponed part due to rain. He earned the nickname "Seor Octubre" for his role in the playoffs (Mr. October in Spanish).

Ruiz initially refused to participate in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, but after receiving a call from Martn Torrijos, the President of Panama, he decided to play for the Panamanian team. He sustained a muscle strain in his right oblique early in the season, which prevented him from playing time while on the disabled list. Ruiz or Chris Coste, the Phillies starting catcher, was also discussed early in the season. Rob Neyer debated the topic and later supported Ruiz, who wrote an article.

Ruiz was the regular starter in the league. He ended the season on a hot streak, with 9 doubles, 1 home run, 11 RBIs, and a.446 on-base percentage (OBP). He missed a week of games with inflammation in his left arm in late September. Despite his missed time, he started 100 games and set career highs in home runs (9) and base on balls (47), as well as a posting a.255 batting average and 43 RBIs. In addition, he walked more times than he struck out, a rare feat among modern big league hitters. He led the team with a.341 batting average and a.491 OBP in 15 of the Phillies' 15 games, which perpetuated the use of his nickname "Seor Octubre." Ruiz is "... the Phillies' Senor Octubre," according to Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Daily News, who was a No. In the regular season, the 8 hitter who hits John Buck mimics John Buck, then converts to Johnny Bench come fall."

Ruiz' 2010 season was full of "indelible moments." In the first game of the National League Divisional Series since 1972, Roy Halladay was catcher for Roy Halladay's incredible game against the Florida Marlins and Halladay's no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds. He led the Phillies over the St. Louis Cardinals on May 4 with a walk-off home run, his second of his career. Ruiz spent time on the DL in late June and early July with a concussion, but manager Charlie Manuel returned with a more aggressive swing that allowed him to do better against power pitchers. He led the team with a.302 batting average and a.400 on-base percentage. Both statistics led National League catchers, and he even received few honors for the country's most valuable player. He did not perform as well as in previous years during the 2010 postseason; in nine games, he hit.192 with two home runs and four RBIs. In MLB's This Year in Baseball Awards, fans named Ruiz as the "X-Factor Player of the Year." The Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame also named him with the Pride of Philadelphia Award. Ruiz was branded a "rock" behind the plate by Halladay, who gifted him with a Cy Young Award.

Ruiz played for the Phillies' 2011 season as their everyday starting catcher and appeared in 113 games, of which the Phillies won 70 (.619 winning percentage). With inflammation in his lower back, he spent time on the DL in May. He batted for a.342 average in 36 games over the Phillies' final 36 games. Overall, he had the best catcher's ERA in the major leagues (3.06), a.283 batting average, 6 home runs, and 40 RBIs. His batting average ranked second on the team, behind only Hunter Pence.

Ruiz started the 2012 season with a bang on an otherwise poor roster. He led the Major Leagues with a.364 average through June 27. This culminated in him being named on the National League All-Star team in the first half of the season. He was a reserve, but some analysts, including ESPN's John Kruk, believed his numbers justified a starting nod, which eventually went to the San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey through fan voting. A piece in The Philadelphia Daily News entitled "The evolution of Carlos Ruiz" detailed his career: "Ruiz, on the other hand, was never a big deal." Before being a starting catcher, he was a reserve catcher. Before he was a middle-of-the-order hitter, he was a bottom-of-the-order hitter. Carlos Ruiz is now an All-Star, for the first time in his career. He spent more than a month on the disabled list with plantar fasciitis, limiting his stats, which at the time of his injury were among the highest in the National League. He led all NL catchers in doubles, en route to a.325 batting average and 68 RBIs, all of which were career highs. In MVP voting, he came in 28th for the third straight season in which he had received votes.

Ruiz was suspended for 25 games without compensation by the MLB on November 27, 2012, after testing positive for an amphetamine called Adderall. Ruiz's suspension went into place at the start of the 2013 season. Adderall is a drug used to treat ADHD and anxiety reduction. It is described as a "central nervous system stimulant" used to improve attention span and reduce distraction. At Citi Field, he made his 2013 debut against the New York Mets on April 28. With a Grade 2 strained hamstring, he was put on the DL on May 20. On August 18, he returned to his four-hit game, tied his career high against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and his total output in the first two months of the season stood at.288.

Ruiz's lowest major league total since 2006 had a.268 batting average, five home runs, and 37 RBIs in 92 games in the 2013 season. Ruiz became a free agent after the season. He re-signed on November 21, 2013, a three-year contract worth US$26,000,000 plus a club option for a fourth season, giving the Philadelphia Phillies the opportunity to bring Ruiz back to a fourth season at their discretion. Though one writer suggested that his 2013 season should have been a "berration," most believed the Phillies overpaid to keep Ruiz, who turned 35 during the subsequent offseason.

Despite only four percent of the American population being diagnosed with the disease, he was granted an exception from MLB to use Adderall before the 2014 season. Ruiz earned NL player of the week accolades in late April after getting to.500 during a Phillies road trip, despite a slow start. On June 26, he sustained a concussion that caused him to be on the disabled list, and he began a rehabilitation stint with the Clearwater Threshers on July 17. In a 7-0 win over the Atlanta Braves, Ruiz was behind the plate for Cole Hamels' combined no-hitter throws to Jonathan Papelbon. Ruiz, who was batting.252 with six home runs and 31 RBI in 2014, had "a good season... [that] shouldn't get lost amid the many negatives." Ruiz underwent a minor arthroscopic shoulder surgery on October 1, 2014.

The Phillies reduced Ruiz's workload during spring training in an attempt to keep him fresh throughout the regular season, cognizant of his age and the wear and tear on one's body. Regardless, he maintained that he kept pitchers' bullpen sessions to learn a feel and familiarity with each pitcher. Ruiz was the first catcher in the National League and the second catcher in Major League Baseball history, to catch four no-hitters when teammate Cole Hamels no-hit the Chicago Cubs on July 25, 2011. Ruiz's starting job to Cameron Rupp were greatly reduced in several aspects of his game, including framing pitches – where he previously excelled – and the mental aspect of the game, where he made several uncharacteristic mistakes.

On August 25, 2016, the Philadelphia Phillies traded Ruiz to the Los Angeles Dodgers as a result of cash considerations for A. J. Ellis, Tommy Bergjans, and a player who will be revealed later. Joey Curletta, the player to be announced later, was identified as Joey Curletta. In September, he backed up Yasmani Grandal with the Dodgers, playing in 14 games and hitting.278. In the 2016 National League Division Series, he was also a pinch hitter with a two-run home run.

Ruiz was traded to the Mariners by pitcher Vidal Nuo after the 2016 season. Ruiz pitched in the 8th inning against the Minnesota Twins, dropping one run and striking out Kennys Vargas for Ruiz's first career strike out. Nelson Cruz's 300th home run was recorded during his Oakland Athletics game on July 7. Ruiz' free service was established on November 2, 2017.

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