Prospect Profile: Yefry Ramirez
Yefry Ramirez is the next player to be profiled comes in at number 19 on the Baltimore Orioles preseason top 30 prospects list. Number 20, Adam Hall, was profiled yesterday. Ramirez is a 24 year-old right handed pitcher out of the Dominican Republic.
Ramirez was first signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in early 2011. His first four seasons were spent in rookie ball, spending two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, one and a half seasons in the Pioneer league, and half a season in the Arizona League.
His first season in the DSL was spent out of the bullpen. He made 18 appearances out of the bullpen, pitching 24.2 innings with a 3.28 ERA. He struggled with control walking 17 batters with a 1.06 strike-out to walk ratio.
He transitioned into a starting role for his second season in the DSL. He performed well in the new rule, despite an 0-6 record. He made 13 total appearances including 11 starts, pitching a total of 60 innings. He had a 3.00 ERA, striking out 62 batters and only walking 61.
In 2014 Ramirez split time between the Pioneer League and the Arizona League, appearing in six and seven games respectively. In six starts in the Pioneer League, Ramirez had a 2-1 record with a 4.75 ERA, 17 strikeouts, and 11 walks across 30.1 innings.
Ramirez fared better in his 37.1 innings of work in the Arizona League. He carried a 4-2 reccord in seven appearances including four starts. His ERA was 1.93 and he struck out 48 and only walking four.
In his final season with the Diamondbacks, Ramirez returned to the Pioneer League. He made 14 appearances, starting all but one, and pitched a total of 69 innings. He had a 5-5 record to go along with an ERA of 5.35, 61 strikeouts, and 21 walks.
Despite a lackluster performance, the New York Yankees thought highly enough of Ramirez to select him in the Minor League phase in the 2015 Rule 5 Draft.
He started his Yankees career in the South Atlantic League with the Charleston RiverDogs. He made 11 starts while in Charleston, going 4-2 with a 2.80 ERA, striking out 66 and only walking 14.
His strong start earned him a promotion to the Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League. In his 11 starts in Tampa, he had a .284 ERA with 66 strikeouts and 18 walks across 63.1 innings.
After his strong 2016 season, Ramirez was added to the Yankees 40-man roster and started the 2017 season in AA with the Trenton Thunder. In his 18 starts with the Thunder, Ramirez had a 10-3 record with 3.41 ERA, 91 strikeouts and 38 walks in 92.1 innings.
At the trade deadline, the Yankees traded Ramirez to the Orioles for international pool money. He made six starts, working in 32 innings, with the AA Bowie Baysox after being traded. He went 5-0 with an ERA of 3.66 striking out 26 and walking 11.
He will likely start the year off as a starter in AAA with the Norfolk Tides. With the question marks surrounding the orioles rotation, a good start in Norfolk could lead to Ramirez getting Starts in Baltimore should other options not pan out.
MLB.com Analysis:
Operating from a high three-quarters slot, Ramirez will sit comfortably in the low-90s with his fastball while bumping 96. A plus changeup and an inconsistent slider comprise his secondary arsenal, and he’s capable of generating whiffs against hitters on both sides of the plate with both. Ramirez has good feel for throwing strikes but below-average command.
Ramirez blossomed during his first Double-A campaign, showing an intriguing blend of stuff, pitchability and bat-missing ability. And with good strength and athleticism to his sturdy frame, scouts like the right-hander’s chances of becoming a back-end starter.
MLB.com Scouting Grades:
Fastball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
MLB ETA: 2018
