Poncho Ruiz Season 2021

2022 SEASON (As A Redshirt Freshman): Was one of two SDSU players to start 54 of 55 games in 2022, joining infielder Caden Miller … Started 45 games at catcher and nine at designated hitter … Recorded a slash line of .309/.413/.459, all of which ranked second on the team … Led the Aztecs with 43 runs scored and 30 walks while sharing the top spot with five home runs … His 30 walks also tied for eighth in the Mountain West … Finished second on the squad in hits (64), doubles (14) and total bases (95) while occupying the third position in RBIs (33) … Owned the team’s second-longest hitting streak of the season of 11 games from April 19-May 6 … Also hit safely in nine straight outings from Feb. 19-March 4 … Tied for third on the team with multiple hits in 15 games and two or more RBIs in seven contests … Batted .452 (19-42) when leading off an inning … Brought home nine runners from third base in 14 chances with less than two outs for a 64.3 percent success rate … Drove in two keys runs on a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly in SDSU’s 4-3 victory over Houston in the MLB4 Tournament in Scottsdale, Arizona (2-19-22) … Homered, walked and scored two runs the following day vs. California to wrap up the prestigious event (2-20-22) … Put the Aztecs on the board with a run-scoring single against Utah at the Tony Gwynn Legacy, as the Scarlet and Black rallied for a dramatic 4-3 win (2-27-22) … Tied his career high with four hits, including a pair of doubles to help SDSU claim a decisive 13-1 victory in the opener of a three-game series at Nevada (4-1-22) … Came back and blasted a two-run homer in the finale vs. the Wolf Pack (4-3-22) … Combined for six hits and four RBIs in a weekend series at New Mexico, as the Scarlet and Black swept the Lobos in Albuquerque for the first time since 1990 … Went deep with a two-run shot in the opener at UNM, helping the Aztecs to a 10-3 triumph (4-14-22) … Returned with a collegiate-best three runs scored in game two of the series, as SDSU held on for a thrilling 14-13 victory (4-15-22) … Doubled and scored in a four-run first-inning outburst in the series finale, propelling the Aztecs to an 11-8 win (4-16-22) … Totaled three hits and knocked in a pair of runs at UC San Diego (4-19-22) … Roped a run-scoring double in a 5-0 blitz in the top of the first at Fresno State, sparking an 8-4 series-opening win (4-29-22) … Tied his career high with three runs scored without a hit in the Aztecs’ 12-0 rout of Air Force (5-7-22) … Was twice hit by a pitch and drew a walk in that contest vs. the Falcons … Went 3-for-4 with an RBI double and two runs scored in SDSU’s 9-2 triumph over Nevada (5-14-22) … Finished with a .978 fielding percentage … Threw out 13 would-be base stealers, which ranked second in the Mountain West and tied for fourth with three runners picked off … Also occupied the fourth spot in the conference with 404 putouts.

2021 SEASON (As A Freshman): Enjoyed a solid debut for the Scarlet and Black, batting .300  (18-60) with three homers, 20 RBIs and 13 runs scored … Appeared in 21 games, earning eight starts at catcher and five at designated hitter … Collected two or more RBIs in six games and recorded multiple hits in five outings …  Finished with a .500 slugging percentage and a .348 on-base percentage … Went 5-for-5 with runners on third with less than two outs … Also hit .529 (9-17) with runners in scoring position and batted .400 (8-20) with two outs … Hit safely in his final four appearances of the year from May 22-29, posting a .474 batting average with seven RBIs and six runs scored … Made his first collegiate hit a memorable one, blasting a two-run homer in game one of a doubleheader at UC San Diego to help the Aztecs prevail 7-5 in 11 innings (2-28-21) … Sparked SDSU’s dramatic 12-11 comeback victory at Fresno State with a pinch-hit three-run bomb in the top of the eighth, as the Aztecs scored seven runs in the inning to overcome a 9-5 deficit (4-17-21) … Also contributed to the Scarlet and Black’s wild 21-14 triumph over the Bulldogs in the series finale, batting 3-for-5 in the designated hitter spot with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored, helping SDSU rally from a 14-5 deficit (4-18-21) … Posted a career-high four RBIs in the series finale vs. San José State after drawing a bases-loaded walk and belting a three-run homer to help complete an Aztec sweep (5-9-21) … Collected three RBIs in consecutive starts at Air Force, adding a collegiate-best four hits in the series finale to power SDSU past the Falcons, 20-13 (5-23-21) … Roped an RBI triple for his final hit of the 2021 campaign in a season-ending 11-10 victory at New Mexico (5-29-21).  

PRIOR TO COLLEGE: Won four varsity letters for head coach Ed Johnson at Mater Dei Catholic High in nearby Chula Vista, California, where he was named South Bay Player of the Year … Garnered numerous accolades from Perfect Game, including a No. 18 national ranking among catchers for the 2020 high school graduating class … Was also rated the top freshman entering the Mountain West Conference and received a scout grade of 9.5 by the website … Merited first-team preseason All-America honors for the California region in 2020 after receiving second-team distinction in 2019 and honorable mention in 2018 … Landed a spot on Perfect Game all-tournament teams in three consecutive years, including the 2019 WWBA 17U West National Championship (CBA Marucci National), 2018 Fall National Upperclass Championship (CBA Marucci American) and 2017 Fall National Underclass Championship (CBA Wave Gold) … Appeared at the prestigious Perfect Game National Showcase in 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona.
 
INTERNATIONAL: Played for Team Mexico in three Pan American Games (COPABE).
 
PERSONAL: Ildefonso Ruiz was born in Tijuana, Mexico … Enjoys fishing trips with his family …  Lists Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias as his favorite athlete … Plans to major in business administration at San Diego State.