Former Jasper standout Rene Ruiz '07 is in his fifth season as an assistant coach on the Manhattan College baseball staff. He is also the Jaspers' recruiting coordinator.
Ruiz is the only member of the Manhattan baseball program to be a part of all three Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championships, two as a coach and one as a player.
Ruiz was an All-MAAC shortstop during his career in Riverdale and helped the Jaspers win the program's first MAAC title in 2006. The Miami native spent two years playing professionally with the majority of his work in the Continental Baseball League before his return to Riverdale.
As an assistant coach, Ruiz helped lead Manhattan to back-to-back MAAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances (2011 & 2012). The Jaspers earned the MAAC Regular-Season title both years, posting a combined 38-8 record (.826) against conference opponents.
In his first season as an assistant coach, Ruiz helped raise the team fielding percentage from .955 to .969 as the Jaspers made their championship run finishing with 34 wins. Then in 2012, Manhattan posted a .968 fielding percentage and went on to win 33 games. Ruiz has helped mentor six All-MAAC infielders, including the 2012 All-MAAC First Team middle infield.
As a student-athlete, Ruiz served as the starting shortstop and helped the Manhattan baseball program advance to the 2006 NCAA Regional Finals after defeating Nebraska and current New York Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain in the NCAA Tournament. As a senior, Ruiz was named to the 2007 All-MAAC Second Team after recording one of the highest fielding percentages (.965) among Division I shortstops.
The product of nationally ranked Miami Southridge Senior High School played a total 77 games professionally for the Big Bend Cowboys of the Continental Baseball League between the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Ruiz started 53 games, scored 42 runs, had 16 RBI and stole eight bases. He started 24 games for the Cowboys in 2010 and was named a mid-season All-Star after batting .396 with a .480 on-base percentage and 14 RBI.
Ruiz made a brief stop in the American Association spending 12 games with the Wichita Wingnuts, before finishing the 2010 campaign in the Can-Am League for the Sussex Skyhawks.
