Elvin Ramirez

ELVIN RAMIREZ
RIGHT HANDED PITCHER
Born: October 10, 1987
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 210
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Signed: International free agent, 2004 (Mets)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Country: Dominican Republic
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Ramirez is a hard throwing RHP with a fastball that averages 93-94 and has reached the upper-90s.  He also throws a slider, curve and change, none of which is especially effective.  He has a good enough arm that the Nationals once chose him in the Rule 5 draft, but he missed his entire Rule 5 season and was sent back.  He’s had control problems throughout his career.  Initially a starter, Ramirez has pitched exclusively in relief since 2009, except for one start.  The Pirates signed him to a minor league deal for 2014.

2006
DSL:  0-1-0, 2.63, 0.95 WHIP, 27.1 IP, 3.3 BB/9, 9.2 K/9

Ramirez pitched well starting and relieving in the DSL.

2007
R+:  1-4-0, 5.52 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 45.2 IP, 5.7 BB/9, 9.5 K/9

In a dozen starts in advanced rookie ball, Ramirez had more trouble, getting hit fairly hard and walking a lot of batters, although he struck out over a batter an inning.

2008
A:  6-7-0, 3.67 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 81.0 IP, 4.0 BB/9, 6.9 K/9

Ramirez spent the season in the rotation in low A.  He was more effective than in the previous year, but his K rate dropped dramatically.  Baseball America rated him the Mets’ 26th best prospect after the season.  He missed some time with a muscle strain in his back.

2009
A:  3-7-0, 4.09 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 72.2 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 5.9 K/9

Ramirez returned to low A and regressed a little.  He made only 15 starts as he missed the second half of the season.

2010
A+:  4-3-0, 4.17 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 73.1 IP, 5.3 BB/9, 8.0 K/9
AA:  0-1-0, 4.05 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 6.2 IP, 8.1 BB/9, 9.4 K/9

The Mets moved Ramirez to the bullpen and he spent most of the season in high A.  He continued to have control problems, but hitters batted only .212 against him.  After the season, and particular after he got his fastball up to 99 mph in winter ball, the Nationals selected him in the Rule 5 draft.

2011
INJURED

Ramirez underwent shoulder surgery and missed the entire season.  Afterwards, the Nationals returned him to the Mets.

2012
AA:  0-1-1, 1.38 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 13.0 IP, 4.8 BB/9, 11.1 K/9
AAA:  3-1-1, 2.36 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 42.0 IP, 5.4 BB/9, 8.8 K/9
MLB:  0-1-0, 5.48 ERA, 2.06 WHIP, 21.1 IP, 8.4 BB/9, 9.3 K/9

Ramirez pitched well in AA and then AAA for two months, and the Mets called him up at the beginning of June.  He struggled in the majors, especially with his control, and they sent him back to AAA after a couple weeks.  He returned to the majors two more times during the season.  He continued to have control problems in AAA and serious control problems in the majors.  After the season, the Mets sent him to the Angels for cash.

2013
AA:  1-1-1, 4.09 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 50.2 IP, 3.9 BB/9, 7.5 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 12.19 ERA, 3.48 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 20.0 BB/9, 6.1 K/9

The Angels sent Ramirez to AAA to start the season, but he couldn’t throw strikes at all and they demoted him to AA, where he spent the rest of the season.

Ramirez hasn’t been very effective in AAA, so it’s possible the Pirates could send him to Altoona.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Majors
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MLB.com
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2014: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2006
MLB Debut: 4/23/2011
MiLB FA Eligible: 2014
MLB FA Eligible: 2018
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: 12/9/2010
Options Remaining: 2 (USED:  2012)
MLB Service Time: 1.069
TRANSACTIONS
June 6, 2004: Signed by the New York Mets as an international free agent.
December 9, 2010: Selected by the Washington Nationals in the Rule 5 draft.
October 18, 2011: Returned by the Washington Nationals to the New York Mets.
June 1, 2012: Called up by the New York Mets.
March 27, 2013: Traded by the New York Mets to the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations.
April 25, 2013: Outrighted to AAA by the Los Angeles Angels.
October 1, 2013: Became a free agent.
December 18, 2013: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.