Every Once in a While, Things Break Right for an Old Guy

With Alex Rios heading off to the Windy City, the Blue Jays today called up 31-year-old first baseman/outfield Randy Ruiz rather than 21-year-old outfielder Travis Snider, almost certainly because the Jays are afraid that if they call up Snider, he might get enough Major League service time to become a super-two, eligible for arbitration a year earlier.

It’s a huge break for Ruiz, who is a classic 4A player, too good for the Pacific Coast League or the International League, but too old to get a call up to the Show except in circumstances like these.

Ruiz had a fine year at Rochester in the International League last year, and was rewarded with about a month on the Twins’ Major League roster. He hit a respectable .274 in 62 at bats and even hit his first and only (so far) Major League home run.

I doubt Ruiz will get much playing time with the Jays, and what little time he does get will almost certainly disappear once the September call-ups happen. However, it’s an opportunity for a guy who has played professionally for 11 seasons to get a chance to enjoy the feeling of being on a big league roster and earn a little more Major League service time for purposes of his pension.

It’s also a great opportunity for Ruiz to catch the attention of a Japanese team for 2010. In fact, I would wager that Ruiz’s chances of playing in Japan next year are greater than his chances of playing in the Major Leagues after this season is over.