News
Ruiz heads 2009 Webster winners
August callup led the Pacific Coast League in RBIs
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
09/17/09 5:17 PM ET
ST. PETERSBURG -- The Blue Jays handed out some accolades on Thursday, rewarding some of the top performers at each of the organization's Minor League levels in the annual presentation of the R. Howard Webster Awards.Leading this year's group of recipients is Toronto designated hitter Randy Ruiz, who was honored as Toronto's Player of the Year for Triple-A Las Vegas. Ruiz, a 31-year-old career Minor Leaguer, thrived in the heart of the Las Vegas lineup this season and was named the Pacific Coast League's Most Valuable Player to go along with a well-earned promotion to the Jays in August.
Other winners includes first baseman Brian Dopirak (Double-A New Hampshire), outfielder Moises Sierra (Class A Dunedin), outfielder Johermyn Chavez (Class A Lansing), catcher/first baseman Sean Ochinko (Class A Auburn), catcher Carlos Perez (Gulf Coast League) and left-hander Jose Vargas (Dominican Summer League).
Ruiz hit .320 with 25 home runs and 106 RBIs for Las Vegas before being summoned to the Major League for a chance at being considered for a role with Toronto in 2010. Ruiz was named to the midseason and year-end All-Star teams in the PCL and led the league in RBIs, doubles (43) and extra-base hits (70). In 24 games with the Jays, he's hit .276 with seven homers and 14 RBIs.
Dopirak, who took home a Webster for his offensive showing last season with Dunedin, combined to hit .317 with 27 homers, 42 doubles and 102 RBIs between stints at Double-A and Triple-A this year. He was twice named the Eastern League's Player of the Week this year and he was named to the league's midseason and postseason All-Star squads.
Among the other winners: Sierra hit .286 with five home runs and 56 RBIs with Dunedin en route to the organizational honor; Chavez batted .283 with 21 homers and 89 RBIs in his time with Lansing; Ochinko hit at a .324 clip with six homers and 32 RBIs with Auburn; Perez hit .291 with one homer and 21 RBIs for the GCL Blue Jays; and Vargas went 6-3 with a 1.34 ERA and 51 strikeouts over 67 innings in the DSL.
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
