True Rangers Fan
2023 World Series Champions
While Long Beach State has a strong reputation for producing big league infielders like Evan Longoria and Troy Tulowitzki, there have been some very good arms to come from that rotation as well, with 2004 first-rounder Jered Weaver the best example and lefty Adam Seminaris the most recent taken in the top five rounds. Ramirez joined the Dirtbags' staff in that '20 season and had moderate success in the rotation in '21. A strong performance in the Cape Cod League last summer led to a big step forward this spring, though shoulder issues that forced him to miss some starts concerned scouts. There was no doubt Ramirez belonged in conversations about the top five rounds when healthy. His fastball averages around 92 mph and will touch 94-95, and he throws the pitch with a ton of sink, a big reason why he had a ground-ball rate on balls in play over 60 percent. He’s tightened up his 79-80 mph slider and it’s missed more bats, and after working on his changeup on the Cape, it’s been a much more effective pitch. Not only has Ramirez’s stuff been better, he’s been more consistently in the strike zone, cutting his walk rate. But missing starts has raised flags among scouts interested in the Long Beach State Friday night starter as all eyes will be on how he returns to action to determine how early he might go.