Carlos Joaquín Ruiz, popularly known as “Chooch” Ruiz, (born January 22, 1979 in David, Panama) is the starting catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 2004, Ruiz spent his entire season with the Double-A Reading Phillies, where his 17 home runs were second among catchers in the Eastern League. He also had a season-best 10-game hitting streak in July and hit .343 (23-67) over his final 17 games. He played in the developmental Arizona Fall League as well.

In 2005, Ruiz batted .300 in 100 games (347 AB) with 25 doubles, 30 walks, and 4 home runs. In 2006 before his callup, Ruiz was batting .385 with an on-base percentage of .448, including 5 doubles and 6 home runs in 91 at-bats. He also participated in the 2006 inaugural World Baseball Classic, playing for Panama.

Ruiz was called up to the Phillies in May 2006, and played in 27 games that year.

Ruiz played 115 games in 2007 for the Phillies helping them win their second straight NL East title. In 2007, Ruiz hit six home runs and compiled a .259 batting average. He had one of the highest fielding percentages in baseball among catchers with a .997, with only 2 errors in 744 chances.

On October 25, 2008, in Game 3 of the 2008 World Series, Ruiz hit his first postseason home run off Tampa Bay Rays’ pitcher Matt Garza at Citizens Bank Park. In the ninth inning, he recorded a walk-off single, sending Eric Bruntlett home from third, becoming only the fourth National League player to hit a bases loaded walk-off hit in World Series history, and the first walk-off of any kind by a Phillies player in the World Series.