ProfileHt.: 5'11" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School
Arizona State
Drafted in the 8th round (261st overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 2009 (signed for $110,000).
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At 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, Ramirez turns off scouts with his soft body. But he has hit with authority everywhere he's played, and his defense gets solid reviews. Ramirez was a 34th-round draft pick by the Angels last year after hitting .386/.471/.660 with a wood bat for Chandler-Gilbert (Ariz.) CC. He turned them down and spent the summer in the Northwoods League, leading the league with 10 home runs and earning league MVP honors. While coach Pat Murphy used two catchers last season, Ramirez came in and made a seamless transition, quickly learning the new staff and starting every game this season. He calls his own games and worked with two of the best college pitchers in the country this year. While he's a good receiver, his arm is average at best. The wear and tear of catching didn't slow him down at the plate, as Ramirez hit .344/.449/.693 with 17 home runs during the regular season. He also has the swagger and leadership you look for in a catcher, getting respect from opposing coaches who say he's the kind of player you hate on another team but would love to have on your own team.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
Ramirez drew physical comparisons to Bengie Molina coming out of Arizona State, and he has improved his defensive play to the point that he now profiles as a major league backup. Scouts like Ramirez's quiet set-up, soft hands, sure feet and quick, short arm stroke. He sacrifices his body to block balls in the dirt, and he regularly produces above-average pop times on throws to second base, typically around 1.8-1.9 seconds. However, he threw out just 24 percent of basestealers in 2011. He moves well behind the plate despite poor speed and a thick, stocky frame. Ramirez shows pull-side power when he cheats on fastballs, but he lacks the bat speed to be a factor on offense. He knows his strike zone and seldom goes outside it, usually connecting when he swings. He hits the ball to all fields with a line-drive stroke, though he may struggle to hit for average or draw walks when pitchers at higher levels challenge him with hard stuff. Ramirez will return to Double-A.
The Angels first selected Ramirez in the 34th round of the 2008 draft, after he had spent two years at Chandler-Gilbert (Ariz.) CC. He led the summer collegiate Northwoods League with 10 homers and won league MVP honors, then declined to sign before heading to Arizona State. His draft stock soared as he helped the Sun Devils reach the College World Series, and he signed as an eighth-rounder last June for $110,000. Ramirez hit .376 and topped the Pioneer League with a .500 on-base percentage, leading Orem to the league's best record and playoff title. He shows a patient, polished approach but has no better than fringe-average bat speed. His swing is short and he's more of a gap hitter than a slugger. Ramirez called his own games in college and relished assuming a leadership role with the Owlz, developing a great rapport with his pitchers. Despite his well below-average speed and athleticism, Ramirez blocks and receives well. He features an average arm with a quick release, typically completing throws to second base in 1.9-2.0 seconds. He threw out 32 percent of basestealers in his pro debut. Ramirez, who draws body comparisons to Bengie Molina, could reach high Class A at some point in 2010.
Minor League Top Prospects
With a 5-foot-11, 205-pound body only Bengie Molina would envy, Ramirez doesn't look the part of typical prospect. But Kotchman credits the former Arizona State backstop, who signed in mid-July, as a key reason for the Owlz finishing with the league's best regular-season record and winning the playoffs. Ramirez has hit everywhere he's played, and that trend continued in his pro debut. With a short swing and strike-zone awareness, he hit .376 (which would have won the league batting title if he hadn't fallen 15 plate appearances short) and had a .500 on-base percentage (that topped the league because he still would have finished first if he had gone 0-for-15). He has the bat, average power and intangibles to profiles as a regular catcher. Ramirez called his own game in college and relished assuming a leadership role with Orem, developing a great rapport with his pitchers and taking pride in his knowing the strengths of each. Despite his well-below average speed and athleticism, he blocks and receives well. Ramirez features an average arm with a quick release, typically completing throws to second base in 1.9-2.0 seconds. He threw out 32 percent of basestealers, slightly above the league average of 31 percent.
Best Tools List
Rated Best Defensive Catcher in the Los Angeles Angels in 2013
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