Ruiz Deserves A Shot In 2010!

Among all MLB hitters with at least 100 AB in 2009, Ruiz ranked second in Slugging Percentage. Sandwiched between Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder, some pretty impressive company.

Albert Pujols .658 SLG
Randy Ruiz .635 SLG
Prince Fielder .602 SLG

Just for interest sakes...

#4 - Joe Mauer .587 SLG
#5 - Derrek Lee .579 SLG
#6 - Ryan Howard .571 SLG
#7 - Kendry Morales . 569 SLG
#8 - Joey Votto . 567 SLG
#9 - Garrett Jones .567 SLG
#10 - Mark Teixeira .565 SLG

AND #11

Toronto Blue Jays' own DH Adam Lind!! (.562 SLG)

The right-handed hitting Ruiz (.635 SLG) and the left-handed hitting Lind (.562 SLG) should a lethal duo in the DH spot for the Jays' in 2010. Ruiz could DH against lefties and on days when Lind plays either LF or 1B, and Ruiz could get the odd look at 1B.

In The System: Jake Marisnick

Marisnick is awesome!!

In The System: Chad Jenkins

Jenkins was the Jays 1st pick, 20th overall in the 2009 draft.

In The System: Brett Wallace

Position: 3B/1B DOB: August 26, 1986
Bats: Left Throws: Right

Wallace was acquired in a trade with the Oakland Athletics for OF prospect Michael Taylor (who was previously acquired in the Roy Halladay trade). Ironically, but obviously not coincidentally, Wallace was previously drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 42nd round of the 2005 June Draft, but chose not to sign. Three years later he was the Cardinals first pick (13th overall) in 2008.

Wallace split 2009 between 3 teams, AA-Springfield and AAA-Memphis with the St. Louis Cardinals organization and AAA-Sacremento with the Oakland A's and combined to hit .293/.367/.455 with 20 HR and 63 RBI in 532 AB. The power numbers are still not exactly where the Jays would like them to be but they are an improvement over '08's totals of 8 HR and 36 RBI in 202 AB, with a .337/.427/.530 clip. His full minor league stats can be viewed at Baseball-Reference here.

In The System: Kyle Drabek

Position: SP DOB: December 8, 1987
Throws: Right

Drafted: Phillies #1 pick (18th overall) in 2006 June Draft

Highlights: 267.2 career minor league IP and 226 career K's to 96 BB's with a 3.70 ERA

Drabek reached AA-Reading in the Phillies minor league system in 2009 and made 14 starts going 8-2 with a 3.64 ERA over 96.1 IP with a 76/31 K/BB ratio.


Drabek was acquired by the Jays in the Roy Halladay deal.

In The System: Travis D'Arnaud

D'Arnaud was acquired by the Jays in the Roy Halladay trade.

In The System: Zachery Stewart

Stewart (born 09/28/1986), was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays in the July 31st trade that sent former 3B Scott Rolen to the Cincinnati Reds. The Jays also received 3B Edwin Encarnacion and RP Josh Roenicke.