Carlos Ruiz: The True Unsung Hero in Philadelphia

One of the most underrated and overlooked players in the MLB is undoubtedly Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz. Chooch, as the fans like to call him, is the kind of guy that everyone loves. He is cool, down to earth, and a great player.

Whether you can understand him or not, you got to love Ruiz’s walkout music. Chooch sports everything from “Turn My Swag On” by Soulja Boy to “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins. On top of being an absolute boss with tip-top swag, Carlos has captured the hearts of the entire Philadelphia population.

Since joining the Phillies in 2006, Chooch has been nothing but an all-star in the hearts and minds of the Phillies faithful and he definitely does not get the recognition he deserves.

Well, Chooch, I’m here to spread the word about you!

Ruiz has the coveted ability to call an excellent game. So far this season, Carlos ranks fourth among catchers in putouts and has a .993 fielding percentage. He has caught for some of the best pitchers in baseball such as Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels.

This past May, when Roy Halladay threw a perfect game against the Florida Marlins, he had this to say about Chooch: “I can’t say enough about the job that Ruiz did tonight. It’s as much of a big deal for him as it is for me.”

Most of the pitchers that come through Philly really admire the work Ruiz does behind the plate, yet his publicity in the national and local media is very scarce. 

Although Chooch has one of the hottest gloves at his position, he is not only known for his catching ability. In fact, he is an extremely clutch hitter when it comes to big games and big-time moments.

Chooch has a lifetime postseason batting average of .303 with three homers, 13 RBIs, and 19 walks. In the two World Series that the Phillies were a part of, Ruiz posted a .353 batting average with two home runs, five RBIs, and nine walks.

Being a huge Phillies fan, it seems that Chooch is always coming up with a huge hit or a huge home run. 

Chooch is not a very vocal guy. When interviewed, Chooch is always humble and presents himself in a way that makes others shine and not himself. He is a very unselfish person and represents what Philadelphia sports are all about: hard work, passion, and results. 

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