Two former Billings Mustangs players have been honored as the Topps players of the year in their respective minor leagues.

Randy Ruiz, now a member of the Toronto Blue Jays organization, and Brandon Waring, a member of the Baltimore Orioles, were named the top players in the Pacific Coast League and the Carolina League, respectively.

Ruiz, who played for the Mustangs in 2000 before the Cincinnati Reds released him in 2003, batted .320 and hit 25 home runs with 106 RBIs for Triple-A Las Vegas. He received a late-season promotion to the Blue Jays and hit .313 with 10 home runs and 17 RBIs in 115 at-bats.

Waring set a Mustangs franchise record with 20 home runs in 2007 before the Orioles obtained him in a trade with the Reds. This season Waring hit 26 home runs and had 90 RBIs for Single-A Frederick. He also had a .273 batting average. Waring was called up to Double-A Bowie of the Eastern League at the end of the season, where he hit .292 with a home run and six RBIs in 24 at-bats.

Ogden's Brian Cavazos-Galvez earned the Pioneer League's player of the year award. The Raptors outfielder batted .322 while hitting 18 home runs and driving in 63.

Topps salutes the top performances throughout Minor League Baseball, including monthly awards and all-star teams in each classification.