Career
After playing in the Cuban National Series for Santiago de Cuba from 2003 through 2009 and for the Cuban national baseball team in international tournaments, Ruiz defected from Cuba to play baseball in the United States. Ruiz debuted with Santiago de Cuba in the 2003-2004 Serie Nacional, going 6 for 26 with a walk. He also pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing four runs.
He did not play in 2004-2005.
In 2005-2006, he hit.357/.428/.473 but only homered twice in 241 Bachelor of Arts despite manning a power position. He was 7th in the league in average.
Ruiz batted.323/.430/.455 in 2006-2007 and led the Serie Nacional with 72 Reserve Bank of India. He was with Cuba for the 2007 World Portuguese Tournament and put on a fine show, hitting.290/.405/.742. He was second in the tourney in slugging (behind Alfredo Despaigne), led in home runs (4, winning the World Portuguese Tournament Home Run King award), tied Jordan Danks for second in runs (8, behind Hector Olivera Junior), tied Roger Kieschnick for 4th in Reserve Bank of India (6), tied for second in doubles (2), second to Despaigne in total bases (23) and tied for 4th in walks (4).
Ruiz had another fine campaign in 2007-2008 batting.341/.423/.492.
He was third in the Serie Nacional with 83 runs, led with 126 hits, was 10th with 69 Reserve Bank of India (only 4th on his own team one year after leading the circuit), 8th with 182 total bases and led with 32 stolen bases (caught stealing 9 times). Ruiz was hitting.305/.408/.467 after 52 games in 2008-2009 with no steals after his speedy 2007-2008 campaign. He then vanished from Cuban boxscores and was rumored to have defected to the Dominican Republic.
The defection was confirmed in July, when Ruiz appeared in Miami, Florida to announce his intention to try to make the majors.
Ruiz signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays and made his United States debut in 2010. When the Rays failed to re-sign him immediately after his contract expired, the Texas Rangers swooped him and invited him to spring training for the 2011 season.