NEW YORK – What is the going rate for a uniform number these days?

Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz set the bar fairly high with the gift he gave to teammate Brock Stewart on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old Stewart is now the owner of a new Louis Vuitton designer “business watch” after switching to uniform No. 48 a few weeks ago in order for Ruiz to wear his longtime number of 51 when he came over to the Dodgers from the Philadelphia Phillies.

Brock Stewart is wearing a sleek new watch courtesy of newly acquired catcher Carlos Ruiz. EPA/PAUL BUCK

There appeared to be no number request from Ruiz. When he was acquired by the Dodgers via trade on Aug. 25, the No. 51 uniform was hanging in his locker when he arrived. Stewart, who previously wore 51, was in the minor leagues at the time of the trade and when he was recalled a day later, his uniform number was different.

The whole number swap seemed fairly insignificant and seemed to go unnoticed. But when Ruiz found out he was actually given a number worn by somebody else before him, he went out of his way to make the kind gesture to Stewart, making his watch purchase after the team arrived in New York.

“That’s the kind of guy he is,” Stewart said, showing the sleek stainless steel watch inside of a blue leather box. “He has already helped me out so much just in the short time he has been here. He’s just a nice guy.”