Neil Ramírez | |
---|---|
![]() Ramírez with the New York Mets in 2017 | |
Free agent | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. | May 25, 1989|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 25, 2014, for the Chicago Cubs | |
MLB statistics (through 2019 season) | |
Win–loss record | 4–8 |
Earned run average | 4.46 |
Strikeouts | 211 |
Teams | |
Neil Andrew Ramírez (born May 25, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, and Toronto Blue Jays.
Early life and amateur career
[edit]Ramírez attended and played baseball at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In high school, he was named the 2007 Gatorade Virginia Baseball Player of the Year, made the East team roster at the 2006 Aflac All-American Classic and won a silver medal with the United States at the 2006 World Junior Baseball Championship in Cuba. Baseball America ranked him the 71st best draft prospect in 2007.[1][2][3]
Ramírez originally committed to play college baseball at Georgia Tech but was selected by the Texas Rangers in the first round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft and decided instead to sign a professional contract.[2][1]
Professional career
[edit]Texas Rangers
[edit]Ramírez spent six years in the Rangers' farm system, playing for the Spokane Indians in 2008 and the Hickory Crawdads in 2009 and 2010.
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Neil_Ramirez_on_June_9%2C_2012.jpg/220px-Neil_Ramirez_on_June_9%2C_2012.jpg)
On August 17, 2011 he was promoted to Triple-A at Round Rock in place of Eric Hurley who was placed on the disabled list with viral infection. Prior to his promotion, on July 15, Ramírez was sent to rehab in Double-A Frisco, Texas, due to a sore shoulder. He was quoted as saying to MLB.com that the absence had not bothered him.[4]
On November 18, 2011, Ramírez was added to the Rangers' 40-man roster.[5]
Chicago Cubs
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/DSCN0126_Neil_Ramirez.jpg/220px-DSCN0126_Neil_Ramirez.jpg)
On August 23, 2013, Ramírez was traded to the Chicago Cubs as the player to be named later in the July 2013 trade of Matt Garza.[6] By June 9, 2014, through 14 innings pitched, he had struck out 23 players while having a 0.71 WHIP ratio.[7]
On June 5, 2014, Ramírez earned his first career save in a victory over the New York Mets.
Ramírez finished the year with a 1.44 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched
Milwaukee Brewers
[edit]On May 31, 2016, Ramírez was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers.[8]
Minnesota Twins
[edit]On June 12, 2016, Ramírez was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins.[9] He made 8 appearances for Minnesota, struggling to a 6.14 ERA with 11 strikeouts across 14+2⁄3 innings pitched. Ramírez was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings on July 20.[10] In 16 outings for Rochester, he compiled a 3.10 ERA with 27 strikeouts across 20+1⁄3 innings of work. Ramírez elected free agency following the season on November 7.[11]
San Francisco Giants
[edit]On November 28, 2016, Ramírez signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.[12] On April 1, the Giants announced that Ramírez had earned the team's final Opening Day bullpen spot.[13] In 9 games for San Francisco, he recorded an 8.71 ERA with 18 strikeouts across 10+1⁄3 innings pitched. On April 30, Ramírez was designated for assignment to create room for Bryan Morris, who had his contract selected from Triple-A.
Toronto Blue Jays
[edit]On May 4, 2017, Ramírez was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays.[14] He was designated for assignment on May 9 without having thrown a pitch for the Blue Jays. On May 14, Ramírez elected free agency after being outrighted to the minor leagues.[15]
New York Mets
[edit]On May 16, 2017, the New York Mets signed Ramírez.[16] On July 20, the Mets designated Ramírez for assignment.
Washington Nationals
[edit]On July 27, 2017, Ramírez signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals. In 14 games for the Triple–A Syracuse Chiefs, he registered a 6.14 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 14+2⁄3 innings pitched. Ramírez elected free agency following the season on November 6.[17]
Cleveland Indians
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Neil_Ramirez_%2827801847367%29_%28Cropped%29.jpg/220px-Neil_Ramirez_%2827801847367%29_%28Cropped%29.jpg)
Ramírez signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on November 30, 2017.[18] The Indians purchased Ramírez's contract on May 15, 2018.[19] He finished the season with an ERA of 4.54 in 41+2⁄3 innings, his most output since his rookie season in 2014.
He began the 2019 season in the bullpen. He was designated for assignment by the Indians on May 18, 2019, after registering an ERA of 5.40 in 16+2⁄3 innings.[20] After clearing waivers, Ramírez accepted a minor league assignment to the Columbus Clippers, the Indians' Triple-A affiliate, on May 23, 2019.[21] He was released on August 2, 2019.
Toronto Blue Jays (second stint)
[edit]On August 6, 2019, Ramírez signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He was called up by the Blue Jays on August 11.[22] On September 1, Ramirez was designated for assignment.[23] He declared free agency on September 4.
Los Angeles Angels
[edit]On December 22, 2019, Ramírez signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels that included an invitation to Spring Training. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[24] Ramírez was released by the Angels organization on September 1, 2020.
High Point Rockers
[edit]On April 28, 2023, after several years of inactivity, Ramírez signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[25] In 10 games (8 starts) for the Rockers, he logged a 2–3 record and 4.82 ERA with 37 strikeouts across 37+1⁄3 innings pitched.
On April 15, 2024, Ramírez re–signed with High Point.[26] In 17 games (12 starts) for the Rockers, he posted a 5–4 record and 4.83 ERA with 75 strikeouts over 69 innings. Ramírez was released by High Point on August 13.[27]
Scouting report
[edit]According to Baseball America, Ramírez is 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall, weighs 210 pounds (95 kg), and can throw his fastball at 97 miles per hour (156 km/h).[28]
Personal
[edit]Ramírez married Tiffany in October 2014.[29]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "2006 CWS Participant Tech Baseball Announces 13 Commitments in Early Signing Period". RamblinWreck.com. November 15, 2006. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- ^ a b "Q and A with Cubs reliever Neil Ramirez". Scout.com. June 11, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- ^ "Aflac Preview: East And West Rosters". Baseball America. August 9, 2006. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
- ^ Louie Horvath (August 17, 2011). "Prospect Ramirez not deterred by sore shoulder". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
- ^ "Rangers purchase contracts of six players for 40-man roster" (Press release). November 18, 2011. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
- ^ Mark Gonzales (August 23, 2013). "Cubs claim RHP Ramirez on waivers to complete Garza trade". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ "Neil Ramirez proving he belongs with Cubs". Comcast SportsNet Chicago. June 9, 2014. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
- ^ Todd, Jeff (May 31, 2016). "Brewers Claim Neil Ramirez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ^ Byrne, Connor (June 12, 2016). "Twins Claim Neil Ramirez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ "Twins Outright Neil Ramirez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2016". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ Eddy, Matt (December 5, 2016). "Minor League Transactions: Nov. 19-Dec. 1". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
- ^ "Quick Hits: Rockies, Rays, Orioles, Rangers, Giants". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ "Blue Jays claim relief pitcher Neil Ramirez off waivers". Sportsnet. May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
- ^ "Blue Jays PR on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
- ^ "Desperate for pitching help, Mets sign righty Neil Ramirez to major-league deal". New York Daily News. May 17, 2017.
- ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ Adams, Steve (November 30, 2017). "Indians Agree To Minor League Deals With Neil Ramirez, Evan Marshall". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Hoynes, Paul (May 15, 2018). "Cleveland Indians put Bradley Zimmer on DL; promote RHP Neil Ramirez". Cleveland.com.
- ^ RotoWire Staff (May 18, 2019). "Indians' Neil Ramirez: Designated for assigment [sic]". CBS Sports. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ^ Todd, Jeff (May 24, 2019). "Neil Ramirez Accepts Outright Assignment With Indians". MLB Trade Rumors.
- ^ Sportsnet Staff (August 11, 2019). "Blue Jays call up newly signed reliever Neil Ramirez from triple-A". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- ^ RotoWire Staff (September 1, 2019). "Blue Jays' Neil Ramirez: Surrenders roster spot". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- ^ "Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions".
- ^ "2024 Transactions". atlanticleague.com. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
- ^ "Transactions". baseball.pointstreak.com. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ John Arguello (August 23, 2014). "Cubs acquire Neil Ramirez as PTBNL in Garza deal". ChicagoNow. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
- ^ Muskat, Carrie (December 23, 2015). "Ramirez makes life-changing trip to Haitian orphanage". MLB.com. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Neil Ramírez on X