Post by rog on Dec 9, 2018 11:48:39 GMT -5
Heliot Ramos is now hitting .321/.893 for Santurce in the Puerto Rico Winter League. His batting average is second on the Cangrejeros (Crabbers) behind Ivan de Jesus, Jr. Heliot has struck out only nine times in 53 at bats, although he has still walked only once, as well. Sounds like frequent contact, which has been the biggest worry for the Giants' #2 prospect.
(As an aside, Ivan De Jesus, Sr. was once traded for Larry Bowa AND Ryne Sandberg.)
Turns out Ramos was preceded with the Crabbers over six decades ago by another fairly good Giants outfielder -- Willie Mays. Just a couple of months after the Giants won the 1954 World Series, Mays played center field for the Crabbers, who also featured another fairly good outfielder in Roberto Clemente. Clemente slugged .571 that season, and Willie won the Caribbean World Series for Santurce with a walk-off home run in Game 6.
Clemente had just been stolen by the Pirates from the Dodgers in the Rule 5 Draft. He would go on to have an above-average major league career.
Amazing what one can learn when trying to find out how Ramos is doing in winter ball. Clearly the Puerto Winter League isn't what it was back when Mays and Clemente played, but for Ramos to be doing as well as he is is impressive to me.
Ramos hasn't learned to use his fine speed. He has yet to steal a base in Puerto Rico, and is just 18 for 27 in his steal attempts in his first two seasons of organized ball. Ramos has played center field his two seasons in the minors, but as he adds weight, the feeling is that he may move to a corner outfield spot. One scout has even suggested a move to second base.
Ramos has the arm for right field and apparently both the speed and ball tracking ability to handle the cavernous Bermuda Triangle in AT&T.
I'm really encouraged. The Giants drafted Ramos for his athletic skills (His brother plays soccer for the Puerto Rico National Team), and he seems to be developing his bat-to-ball ability. According to scouting reports, his speed is turning out to be a little disappointing, but for a 19-year-old to be making improvements in a man's league is impressive.
In his first minor league season (as a 17-year-old), Ramos struck out once every 2.9 at bats. Even after skipping a level last season, he cut his strikeouts to once every 3.6 at bats. This winter he has cut it back to just once every 6.1 at bats. Small sample, but thus far he's cut his strikeouts by half in less than a year and a half.
This has no doubt brought a smile to Farhan's face.
Let's move Ramos' ETA up to 2021, or just one season later than Joey Bart. Both players could be contributors in 2022. Among the current Giants, only Buster Posey and, gulp, Evan Longoria are under contract for 2022, meaning most of today's high salaries will have been eliminated -- barring re-signings, of course.
With Farhan at the helm and Nick Hundley as the Giants' manager, the Giants will be good again. Their hitting coaches will be Barry Bonds and Will Clark. Ryan Vogelsong will have been brought in as pitching coach. Bruce Bochy's son Brett will be bullpen coach. Omar Vizquel will coach the Giants' infield. Gary Brown will be working in the Giants' front office.
And all will be well in San Francisco -- except the liberals, of course.
(As an aside, Ivan De Jesus, Sr. was once traded for Larry Bowa AND Ryne Sandberg.)
Turns out Ramos was preceded with the Crabbers over six decades ago by another fairly good Giants outfielder -- Willie Mays. Just a couple of months after the Giants won the 1954 World Series, Mays played center field for the Crabbers, who also featured another fairly good outfielder in Roberto Clemente. Clemente slugged .571 that season, and Willie won the Caribbean World Series for Santurce with a walk-off home run in Game 6.
Clemente had just been stolen by the Pirates from the Dodgers in the Rule 5 Draft. He would go on to have an above-average major league career.
Amazing what one can learn when trying to find out how Ramos is doing in winter ball. Clearly the Puerto Winter League isn't what it was back when Mays and Clemente played, but for Ramos to be doing as well as he is is impressive to me.
Ramos hasn't learned to use his fine speed. He has yet to steal a base in Puerto Rico, and is just 18 for 27 in his steal attempts in his first two seasons of organized ball. Ramos has played center field his two seasons in the minors, but as he adds weight, the feeling is that he may move to a corner outfield spot. One scout has even suggested a move to second base.
Ramos has the arm for right field and apparently both the speed and ball tracking ability to handle the cavernous Bermuda Triangle in AT&T.
I'm really encouraged. The Giants drafted Ramos for his athletic skills (His brother plays soccer for the Puerto Rico National Team), and he seems to be developing his bat-to-ball ability. According to scouting reports, his speed is turning out to be a little disappointing, but for a 19-year-old to be making improvements in a man's league is impressive.
In his first minor league season (as a 17-year-old), Ramos struck out once every 2.9 at bats. Even after skipping a level last season, he cut his strikeouts to once every 3.6 at bats. This winter he has cut it back to just once every 6.1 at bats. Small sample, but thus far he's cut his strikeouts by half in less than a year and a half.
This has no doubt brought a smile to Farhan's face.
Let's move Ramos' ETA up to 2021, or just one season later than Joey Bart. Both players could be contributors in 2022. Among the current Giants, only Buster Posey and, gulp, Evan Longoria are under contract for 2022, meaning most of today's high salaries will have been eliminated -- barring re-signings, of course.
With Farhan at the helm and Nick Hundley as the Giants' manager, the Giants will be good again. Their hitting coaches will be Barry Bonds and Will Clark. Ryan Vogelsong will have been brought in as pitching coach. Bruce Bochy's son Brett will be bullpen coach. Omar Vizquel will coach the Giants' infield. Gary Brown will be working in the Giants' front office.
And all will be well in San Francisco -- except the liberals, of course.