Luis Ramirez

Ramirez stood out at the Area Code Games as a unique baseball talent from Salesian High, an inner-city Los Angeles high school more known for producing basketball and soccer players. He went on to start three years in Long Beach State’s rotation and tied for the Cape Cod League lead in strikeouts last summer pitching for Wareham. His signature start came on Opening Day this spring when he pitched six no-hit innings against defending champion Mississippi State in Starkville on Opening Day. Ramirez dominates when he’s on the mound but has struggled to stay healthy. His fastball sits 91-94 mph with life and heavy sink out of a low-effort delivery and his slider is an above-average pitch that he commands exceptionally well. His fastball plays especially well to his glove side, where it shows plus sink and movement, and he has extraordinary feel for manipulating the length and velocity of his slider. He also has an above-average changeup that he sells well with his arm speed, although he doesn’t throw it often. Ramirez commands the ball to both sides of the plate and has a good feel for moving pitches around the strike zone, giving him above-average control and pitchability. Ramirez’s talent is exciting, but he made only seven starts this spring due to a shoulder injury and didn’t pitch after April 22. He has never thrown more than 65.1 innings in a season and has a history of wearing down late in seasons. Ramirez has the stuff and control to start, but his health and durability may push him to the bullpen. He is a third-round talent but may go lower depending on his medical reports.