Ruiz’s stellar year with 51s nets MVP honor

Randy Ruiz hasn't played in the Pacific Coast League since Aug. 11, but the former 51s first baseman still leads the league in RBIs (106), doubles (43) and extra-base hits (70).

On Friday, the PCL honored Ruiz, who was called up to the parent Toronto Blue Jays last month, as its Most Valuable Player. The honor is determined by the league's managers and media representatives.

Ruiz, who was batting .320 and had 25 home runs at the time of his call-up, becomes the fifth player in Las Vegas' 27-year franchise history to win the PCL MVP award. He joins former outfielder Kevin McReynolds (1983), first baseman Tim Pyznarski (1986), catcher Sandy Alomar (1988 and 1989) and first baseman Phil Hiatt (2001).

This season, the 31-year-old Ruiz was selected as the starting first baseman for the PCL in the Triple-A All-Star Game.

In 2008 with the Rochester (N.Y.) Red Wings, Ruiz won the International League batting title and was named that league's Rookie of the Year.

Ruiz is hitting .292 with five home runs and eight RBIs in 18 games for the Blue Jays.