Carlos Ramirez began his pro career as an outfielder with the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2009.
It wasn’t enough for the Oakland Athletics to sweep a four-game set over the Toronto Blue Jays over the Victoria Day weekend, they also claimed righthanded pitcher and 2012 Vancouver Canadian Carlos Ramirez off waivers.
The native of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic burst onto the scene in 2017 by not allowing an unearned run over 37-2/3 innings at Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo. The 6-foot-5 hurler was called up to the bigs last September 1 and tossed two scoreless frames against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Ramirez was not scored upon over his first 10 innings over seven outings. He finished the year with a 2.70 earned run average over 16-2/3 innings with 14 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.54.
Heading into spring training, Ramirez was considered to have a shot at playing a key role in the Blue Jays bullpen in 2018 but a sore shoulder sidelined the 27 year-old for most of the spring. His fastball-slider combination was not working as effectively for him with the Buffalo Bisons when his 10 strikeouts was largely offset by eight walks in 8-1/3 innings, leaving him with a 0-1 record and a 5.40 ERA.
Ramirez was given a brief trial with the Blue Jays with back-to-back appearances in Minnesota and Cleveland. He walked a batter and struck out a batter against the Twins May 2 but he issued four walks and gave up a run in two innings at Progressive Field May 3. That led to Ramirez being sent back to the Bisons the next day before being designated for assignment May 13.
Ramirez contributed to the C’s Northwest League championship in 2012 as a right fielder. He doubled, scored twice and knocked in a run in a Game 1 victory over the Boise Hawks at Nat Bailey Stadium. He scored a run in Game 2 and drew a walk and scored another run in the deciding Game 3 at Boise Memorial Stadium.
Carlos Ramirez batted .245 with 13 extra-base hits and seven stolen bases with Vancouver in 2012.
The 2012 season turned out to be Ramirez’s best season with the bat as he batted a combined .250 with Bluefield and Vancouver. A career batting average of .225 in the minors saw Ramirez move to the mound after stalling out in Lansing early in 2014. He would go back to extended spring training before a stint in Bluefield to end the year.
Ramirez had a 2.62 ERA with Bluefield but he walked five batters per nine innings in 2014. He spent most of 2015 with Lansing and was issuing nearly four free passes per nine. The walk rate remained a problem with Dunedin in 2016 with 4.5 walks per nine but he was averaging nearly a strikeout per inning during this whole time. The Blue Jays patience with Ramirez would pay off in 2017 but one has to wonder why their patience ran out with him in 2018. Athletics Nation calls the acquisition of Ramirez “a steal” for the A’s.
If Ramirez rediscovers his 2017 success with Oakland, you could say the Jays suffered five losses to the A’s during the Victoria Day debacle of 2018.
C’s Tweets
Here’s the latest round of C’s Tweets that piqued my interest over the past few days from or about Vancouver Canadians alumni including interviews, observations, photos and video highlights. This round begins with newest Lansing Lugnut and 2017 Vancouver Canadian Brandon Polizzi.
May 17
Audio | Talking with NEW @LansingLugnuts OF Brandon Polizzi prior to today’s game against the Dayton Dragons!
Listen: https://t.co/SgtzrXXCb2
— Dante De Caria⚾ (@Diamond_Dante) May 17, 2018
May 18
Walked 1.3 miles yesterday to Starbucks. Come down to the lobby and somebody says “ooooo they have a Starbucks in the hotel” I look around the corner and said bruuuuuhh. #FeelingDumb
— Brandon Polizzi (@thisdudebp) May 18, 2018
Obeso is now 7-11 with the runners in scoring position this year!
To the T8 | Lugnuts 4, Dragons 0#LugLife https://t.co/qOU6Pwr8DQ
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) May 18, 2018
Sanchez, after an eight strikeout night, asked if he took any satisfaction from swing and misses.
His answer: “I don’t give a $#!t.” (Edited – Family Blog here!)
Says he doesn’t do anybody any good going only four innings and throwing 100 pitches.
— Arash Madani (@ArashMadani) May 18, 2018
May 19
FISHER CATS WIN!!! Biggio walks, Ramirez doubles, and Max Pentecost singles to center to walk it off! 3-2 final in Game 1. Stay tuned for Game 2!
— NH Fisher Cats (@FisherCats) May 18, 2018
Max Pentecost, hero: pic.twitter.com/eiyv8CqxM7
— NH Fisher Cats (@FisherCats) May 19, 2018
Zeuch is through one inning. He’s already broken 2 bats and picked a runner off.
— Blue Jays from Away (@JaysFromAway) May 19, 2018
Zeuch is through 3. Lots of weak contract and 3 broken bats. Only hard contact is when he leaves his FB up. #FisherCats
— Blue Jays from Away (@JaysFromAway) May 19, 2018
Another great Borucki start tonight#Bison#BlueJays pic.twitter.com/AbT45KSxJc
— The BirdFeed (@the_birdfeed) May 19, 2018
Zach Logue fired a professional high seven innings, striking out seven, but the Lugnuts’ winning streak ended at nine games after a 6-3 loss to Bowling Green.
RECAP: https://t.co/2C1hKxSolw#LugLife 🔩 pic.twitter.com/0d7pBQxWjs
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) May 19, 2018
Many more to come for this dude! https://t.co/6FpNYja3kB
— Brayden Bouchey (@UrBoyBouche) May 19, 2018
How dare you
— mike reeves (@reevezymike) May 19, 2018
You are better than this
— Jonathon Wandling (@Jon_Wand) May 19, 2018
Tellez admitted a couple of years ago that learning to cook and eat properly was one of the biggest adjustments he had to make.
— Future Blue Jays (@FutureBlueJays) May 19, 2018
TRANSACTIONS:
Saturday May 19, 2018RHP Justin Shafer – NH to Buf
RHP Brayden Bouchey – EST to NH— VancouverCanadiansPR (@CanadiansPR) May 19, 2018
What’s happening tonight?#NoSpoilers #LugLife pic.twitter.com/UHVpsuh70z
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) May 19, 2018
Pregame Fortnite! #LugLife pic.twitter.com/GlhX1oeJLb
— Lansing Lugnuts (@LansingLugnuts) May 19, 2018
Seriously?! https://t.co/DXFVo4dhNc
— Kacy Clemens (@KClemens21) May 19, 2018
Knew this looked familiar… pic.twitter.com/swW4Vc2jwk
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) May 19, 2018
May 20
Cooley Stadium was 🔋🔋🔋! @chavezyoung242 put his thinking cap on to save a run and then @dsell_11 ( after a @Buffoooo32 🎲) picks up the squad with tying run on third. Thank you my dude #IceInThaVeins . #6MonthParty
— Kevin Smith (@KJS_4) May 20, 2018
In The System: Get to know Canadian #BlueJays prospect @caser137, who came so close to being passed by.https://t.co/Xg5JEQ3KH9
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 20, 2018
Going to miss my man @ChiWilly24 as he heads down to FL for surgery. Chi, I learned a lot from you in a short time. Thanks for showing me what having a professional routine looks like. You showed up and were the same player everyday, lots of respect for you in this clubhouse!
— Kevin Smith (@KJS_4) May 20, 2018
LETS GOOOO BABYYYYYYY!!! https://t.co/OhFbj82apI
— Geno Encina (@G_BabyEncina) May 20, 2018
I cannot believe Vegas is going to the Stanley cup
— Daniel Lietz (@Totes_Magotes20) May 20, 2018
You’re the man Kev. Love you brother gonna miss you! Keep being a stud I’ll see you soon!
— Christian Williams™ (@ChiWilly24) May 20, 2018
I enjoyed this matchup. pic.twitter.com/9qOHFoHyqO
— Jesse Goldberg-Strassler (@jgoldstrass) May 20, 2018
Shoutout to @mattshannon14 for carrying me up to our apartment the last 3 nights #WebsterAward pic.twitter.com/5AOx15qjuL
— Christian Williams™ (@ChiWilly24) May 20, 2018
Congratulations to Jared as he picks up a 10th inning win, by getting out of a bases loaded jam in the 10th. 3 k’s in 2 innings. pic.twitter.com/xBlysQcANf
— Maurice Carkuff (@carkuffm) May 20, 2018