NewsJays' Ruiz selected as Triple-A All-Star
Career Minor Leaguer's production earns Topps' honor
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
11/12/09 2:35 PM EST
TORONTO -- Randy Ruiz swung a powerful bat after an August promotion to Toronto, quickly becoming a favorite among Blue Jays fans with his feel-good story. Ruiz's impressive showing with Toronto was simply a continuation of the tear he went on all year with Triple-A Las Vegas.On Thursday, the Topps Company of New York, in conjunction with Minor League Baseball, honored Ruiz for his overwhelming offensive efforts, naming the 32-year-old career Minor Leaguer the first baseman of the 2009 Topps Triple-A All-Star team.
The honor comes after Ruiz already earned the Pacific Coast League's Most Valuable Player Award, as well as an R. Howard Webster Award from the Blue Jays -- an accolade handed to the MVP at each level of Toronto's Minor League system.
"I've been around the game a long time," Ruiz said toward the end of the season. "I just go out there and try to do my best. Of course, you're going to have people looking at me to see what I can do on the big league level, because I've done it in the Minor Leagues. Hopefully, I can get some good looks and do a good job, and maybe it can help me out for next year."
In 114 games with Triple-A Las Vegas, Ruiz hit .320 with 25 home runs, 43 doubles and 106 RBIs, posting a .392 on-base percentage and a .584 slugging percentage. That earned the first baseman/designated hitter a promotion on Aug. 11 after the Jays let right fielder Alex Rios go to the White Sox in a waiver claim.
Down the stretch with the Blue Jays, Ruiz hit .313 with 10 homers and 17 RBIs in 33 games -- possibly putting him in the mix for a regular role with the big league club in 2010. That would be a dream come true for Ruiz, who has spent the majority of the past 11 years in the Minors and has been cut from various club rosters 12 times over that span.
"I could've quit a long time ago," Ruiz said, "but I thought the man upstairs brought me into this world to hit baseballs and show people I can hit. That's why I'm still in the game."
Over his first seven games with the Blue Jays in August, Ruiz notched at least one hit in every game and launched three home runs. His first two hits as a member of the Jays were home runs, making him the only player in team history to achieve that feat since Doug Ault in Toronto's inaugural game on 1977.
Beyond Ruiz, members of the Topps Triple-A All-Star team included: second baseman Kevin Russo (Yankees); third baseman Andy Marte (Indians); shortstop Alcides Escobar (Brewers); outfielders John Bowker (Giants), Jordan Brown (Indians) and Shelley Duncan (Yankees); catcher John Hester (Diamondbacks); designated hitter Mitch Jones (Dodgers); and pitcher Lenny DiNardo (Royals).
The Topps Double-A All-Stars will be announced on Wednesday, followed by Class A on Nov. 25 and short-season/rookie ball on Dec. 2.
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
