Yefry Ramirez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #26 prospect in 2018
  The Yankees acquired Ramírez, a converted position player from his time with the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the minor league Rule 5 draft and saw him flourish as a starting pitcher. They added him to the 40-man roster after a breakout 2016 season, and dealt him to the Orioles for international signing bonus slots in late July after a strong spell at Double-A Trenton. Ramirez continued that progress with the Orioles, ending his season with a combined 15-3, 3.47 and a 1.19 WHIP in 24 starts. Ramírez has a starter's frame with a 91-95 mph fastball from a three-quarter slot with average life but poor command, while his 83-85 mph slider is inconsistent with vertical break. His changeup has above-average potential and is his out pitch, as he sets hitters up with his fastball and gets them out with his top offspeed pitch. The only thing keeping him from projecting as a starter is below-average control, but if that cleans up, he could be a No. 5 starter or a high-leverage reliever. Ramirez will be a dark-horse candidate in the Orioles' rotation race in spring training, but is more likely ticketed for Triple-A Norfolk to open 2018.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #23 prospect in 2017
  Ramirez was initially signed by the Diamondbacks as a position player and spent a season as a hitter in the Dominican Summer League before moving to the mound in 2012. He pitched for three more seasons in the DSL and short-season levels before the Yankees took him in the minor league phase of the 2015 Rule 5 draft. After finally making it to full-season ball, Ramirez's 132 strikeouts ranked third in the Yankees system behind only Chance Adams and Jordan Montgomery. Ramirez works primarily with three pitches--fastball, curveball and changeup--from a high three-quarters slot. His fastball sat in the low-90s for most of the season but touched 96 mph during Tampa's run to the Florida State League championship series. His changeup, which sits in the low-80s, and his curveball both rank as average pitches. He effectively used both offspeed pitches to handle both righthanders and lefthanders with nearly equal success. The Yankees thought enough of Ramirez to add him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, and he will begin 2017 in Double-A Trenton.