Carlos Joaquín Ruiz, nicknamed "Chooch", is a Panamanian former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Seattle Mariners. Ruiz stands 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) tall, and weighs 215 pounds (98 kg). He bats and throws right-handed.

The 2006 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 124th season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies finished in second place in the National League East, 12 games behind the New York Mets, and three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Wild-Card race. The Phillies, managed by Charlie Manuel, played their home games at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was the National League's Most Valuable Player for the 2006 season, and was the winner of the Century 21 Home Run Derby, held during the All-Star Break at Pittsburgh.