Playing in his 14th game since returning from a suspension, Carlos Ruiz went 2-for-4 and drove in his first run of the season on Wednesday.

One could say Ruiz hasn't been up to speed since returning from his 25-game ban. This is a guy who hit 16 homers and drove in 68 runs in 114 games last year. In 47 at-bats this season, he has just two extra-base hits, both doubles.

Carlos Ruiz was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Wednesday's loss to the Indians.

The catcher is off to a slow start since being reinstated from suspension, picking up just one hit in his first 12 at-bats. But, while Ruiz won't repeat last year's heroics, he remains one to own in mixed leagues.

Phillies reinstated C Carlos Ruiz from suspension.

Ruiz missed the first 25 games of the season while serving a 25-game Adderall suspension. The 34-year-old batted .325/.394/.540 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI in 114 games last season and should immediately be inserted into fantasy lineups.

Carlos Ruiz will play Friday and Saturday at Double-A Reading before rejoining the Phillies on Sunday.

Ruiz has spent the first part of the 2013 season serving a 25-game amphetamine suspension. He hit .325/.394/.540 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI in 114 games last year and is safe to start right away in fantasy leagues.

Carlos Ruiz underwent a second set of X-rays on his left wrist which came back negative.

That was the initial diagnosis after Ruiz was hit by a pitch last Friday in an extended spring training game, but the Phillies just wanted to play it safe. Barring any setbacks, the veteran backstop should be ready to join the Phillies when his 25-game amphetamine on Sunday.

X-rays came back negative on Carlos Ruiz's left wrist after he was hit by a pitch Friday in an extended spring training game.

In other words, it doesn't sound too serious. Ruiz is wrapping up his 25-game amphetamine suspension and will be eligible to join the Phillies on April 28. He's worth stashing away in two-catcher mixed fantasy leagues.

Carlos Ruiz can begin playing in minor league games five days before his suspension ends.

Ruiz has been participating in extended spring training games at the Phillies' complex in Clearwater, Florida and will head out on a minor league rehab assignment in about two weeks. He is eligible to return from his 25-game suspension on April 28.

X-rays on Carlos Ruiz's left hand have come back negative.

Ruiz was hit by a pitch during Thursday's game and had to exit, but it appears that he'll be just fine. He should be back in the Phillies' lineup shortly. Ruiz is slated to serve a 25-game amphetamine suspension at the beginning of the regular season.

Carlos Ruiz left Thursday's game after being hit on his left hand by a pitch.

It's always scary when someone gets hit on the hand, as it's so easy to break some bones. The Phillies should provide an update on Ruiz's status soon. The catcher is slated to serve a 25-game amphetamine suspension at the beginning of the regular season.

Carlos Ruiz singled twice and knocked in three runs versus the Twins on Wednesday.

Ruiz will get plenty of work this spring before sitting out his 25-game amphetamine suspension at the beginning of the regular season. He's 3-for-7 with four RBI and a walk so far.

Carlos Ruiz has been suspended 25 games by Major League Baseball for the use of amphetamines.

"Chooch" will serve the punishment at the start of the 2013 regular season. It's a major blow to the Phillies, who have come to rely on the veteran catcher's improved offensive production. Ruiz, 33, batted .325/.394/.540 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI in 2012 for Philadelphia.

Phillies exercised C Carlos Ruiz's $5 million option for 2013.

It was an easy call for the Phils. Ruiz hit .325/.394/.540 with 16 home runs and 68 RBI in 421 plate appearances this season while playing exceptional defense behind the plate. The 33-year-old is currently scheduled to hit the free agent market after the 2013 campaign.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. said Tuesday that he fully intends to pick up Carlos Ruiz's $5 million option for 2013.

"That's a formality," said Amaro. "But we'll wait because we feel that's the right thing to do." Ruiz has enjoyed his best season in the big leagues this year, compiling a .326/.396/.541 batting line to go along with 16 home runs, 68 RBI and a .936 OPS. He has also thrown out a career-best 34 percent of attempted basestealers.

Carlos Ruiz went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Marlins.

Chooch finished the Miami series with six hits and three RBI, and, most importantly, played in three straight games with no issues. It appears that the plantar fasciitis in his left foot is not longer a concern.

Carlos Ruiz blasted one of four Phillies home runs, powering them to a 6-2 victory over the Braves on Friday night.

He finished the night 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. His solo shot came as part of back-to-back jacks off Tommy Hanson in the fourth inning. Ruiz would later add an RBI single in the sixth, increasing the Phillies advantage to 5-1. He's now hitting an impressive .331/.401/.550 with 15 homers and 62 RBI on the year.

Carlos Ruiz (foot) says he's running at "100 percent."

Ruiz's left foot probably isn't really 100 percent, but he's feeling much better than expected and started consecutive games earlier this week for the first time since going on the DL. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is encouraged, but he doesn't plan to make Ruiz an everyday player down the stretch. "I think if we were to turn him loose, let him play 4 or 5 days in a row, you'd see him have more trouble with it again, I think," Manuel said. "Unless it's completely healed, but [the trainers] haven't said that yet."

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Carlos Ruiz (foot) will start Sunday and he expects to play the catcher every other day down the stretch, at the very least.

Ruiz, who has plantar fasciitis in his left foot, ran well Friday and reported no issues Saturday. The Phillies had planned on playing him just once or twice per week during the final month, but they'll try to squeeze a little more out of him now that they're back in the playoff hunt.

Carlos Ruiz is in Tuesday's lineup against the Marlins.

Carlos Ruiz (foot) said Friday that he expects to play one or two games per week down the stretch.

Ruiz was activated from the disabled list Friday after missing nearly a month with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He hopes to play a few games in a row going into the offseason, so it looks like he just wants some peace of mind. Erik Kratz should still get plenty of playing time the rest of the way, so don't give up on him in NL-only and two-catcher mixed leagues.

Phillies activated C Carlos Ruiz from the 15-day disabled list.

It comes as a bit of a surprise, as less than a week ago, general manager Ruben Amaro expressed some doubt that Ruiz would return this season. The Phillies don't figure to play him every day, especially with Erik Kratz swinging the bat well, but it will still be hard for fantasy owners not to activate him. Ruiz had been out since early August with plantar fasciitis in his left foot.