Phillies Need to Hire Carlos Ruiz to Big League Coaching Staff

While his playing days are over, Chooch’s time with the Phillies is far from over

Carlos Ruiz is the most underrated player from the Phillies recent championship run. Without his ability to call a game and work with pitchers, there’d be no perfect games, no no-hitters, and no World Series.

While his bat didn’t always excite and he was quiet in the clubhouse, Carlos Ruiz was just as valuable to the Phillies run from 2007-2012. Without a doubt, he’s going on the Wall of Fame with that big smile, preferably right next to Roy Halladay.

For those reasons, Chooch needs to be made a Phillie for life, and become a full-time member of the organization as a coach and mentor.

The Phillies have the best crop of catching prospects in all of baseball. Cameron Rupp is holding down the plate, while Andrew Knapp and Jorge Alfaro develop in the minors.

There’s no man better than Carlos Ruiz to be the one teaching them how to play the game the right way. He’s been a constant top-five defensive catcher throughout his 11-year career, and arguably the best game-manager in franchise history.

Among active catchers, Chooch has the second-highest defensive war. He has caught over 7,000 strikeouts, and his pitchers have an above-average 3.92 ERA with him behind the plate.

Related Story: Phillies Pheatured Player: Veteran Catcher Carlos Ruiz

The little nuances to the game are what Chooch can best teach. The most under-looked attribute of a catcher is how he calls a game and manages pitchers. Carlos does this incredibly well, and can pass on his Yoda-esque knowledge to the next generation of champions.

Whether he spends his time bouncing between Clearwater, Reading, and Lehigh Valley, or remains in the Phillies dugout, Matt Klentak needs to find a prominent role for Carlos Ruiz that will keep him in the Phillies organization for many, many years.