Experienced catcher who will see action in a backup role behind the plate this season ... Played during summers of 2006 and 2007 for the Sanford Mainers of the New England Collegiate Baseball League ... In 2007, was named the starting catcher for the NECBL all-star game ... Also earned league[apos]s player of the week honor in early July when he hit .333 with nine RBI over six games ... For the season, hit .239 with nine doubles, two home runs and 23 RBI over 40 games ... During summer 2006, batted .281 with two doubles and a homer in 18 contests.
JUNIOR COLLEGE
Attended Cypress Junior College (Cypress, Calif.) three years, earning a pair of baseball letters under head coach Scott Pickler ... Appeared in only six games in 2005 and was awarded a medical redshirt year due to injury ... In his first full season in 2006, batted .224 over 32 games with three doubles and seven runs batted in ... During his sophomore year of 2007, appeared in 52 games (starting 50) and hit .265 with 10 doubles, two home runs and 17 runs batted in ... Was teammates with current Aztec senior Garett Green in 2006 along with junior catcher Jason Schaniel (2005-07) and 1B-OF Marco Martelli (2005-07) ... Cypress won league title in 2006 and advanced to state final four, then finished as runner-up at state tournament in 2007.
HIGH SCHOOL
Won three varsity letters in baseball at El Modena High School in Orange, Calif. ... Coached there by Steve Bernard ... First-team all-Century League selection as a senior ... Team MVP and defensive player of the year ... As a junior, was named second-team all-league as well as team[apos]s defensive player of the year ... Chosen to the Villa Park Invitational all-tournament team both as a sophomore and junior ... Team captain his final two seasons ... Played one season of football (freshman year) ... A scholar-athlete all four years of high school career.
PERSONAL
Brandon Paul Ruddy was born May 2, 1986, in Orange, Calif. ... Son of Bob and Cathy Ruddy ... Hobbies include surfing and wakeboarding .... Favorite athlete is catcher New York Mets catcher Paul LoDuca ... A communications major at SDSU.