Jhonathan Ramos

JHONATHAN RAMOS
LEFT HANDED PITCHER
Born: August 7, 1989
Height: 5′ 8″
Weight: 156
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Signed: Int. FA, Pittsburgh Pirates, 2006
How Acquired: Int. FA
Country: Venezuela
Agent: N/A

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Ramos is another of the Pirates’ corps of small LHPs who’ve put up good or even spectacular numbers in the low minors.  He throws an upper-80s fastball, a curve and a change.  He has a quick, jerky motion that may make it hard for hitters to pick up the ball.  Ramos has generally been a flyball pitcher, which isn’t so good for a guy with very modest velocity.  He’s been much tougher on left-handed batters in most seasons.

2007
VSL:  6-3-0, 2.47 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 62 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 6.7 K/9

Had strong first season in the VSL although his K rate wasn’t high.

2008
VSL:  5-3-0, 2.69 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 60.1 IP, 1.8 BB/9, 7.0 K/9 

Ramos’ second season was very similar to his first, with the main difference being improved control.

2009
VSL:  5-0-0, 1.82 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 34.2 IP, 0.8 BB/9, 8.6 K/9 

Ramos returned to the VSL for a third season and posted outstanding numbers, although he didn’t pitch as much.  Opponents batted only .192 against him.

2010
A-:  3-1-2, 1.62 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 33.1 IP, 1.1 BB/9, 7.6 K/9
A:  1-1-0, 6.63 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 19 IP, 0.9 BB/9, 8.5 K/9 

The Pirates tried Ramos in the West Virginia bullpen in June and he didn’t fare well.  He got hit hard (.345 opponents’ BA), but at least he walked just two and fanned 18 in 19 innings.  He spent July and August at State College before returning to the Power for a couple of September games.  He pitched well for the Spikes, allowing very few baserunners.

2011
A:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 5.1 IP, 1.7 BB/9, 6.8 K/9
A+:  4-3-1, 3.72 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 72.2 IP, 2.7 BB/9, 5.6 K/9 

Ramos spent the season with Bradenton, pitching in long relief until mid-July, when he joined the rotation.  He made six starts before being placed on the disabled list in mid-August.    He also was sent to West Virginia to make just one relief appearance in August.  He struggled at the beginning and end of the season at Bradenton, posting an ERA of 4.38 in April and 12.38 in August, but 2.24 in between.  For the season he had an opponents’ average of .292.  His K rate dropped significantly.  He was more effective in relief than starting.  He also had a significant platoon split, with right-handed batters hitting .323 against him and left-handers .235.

2012
A+:  6-3-1, 4.65 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 60.0 IP, 3.2 BB/9, 5.6 K/9
AA:  2-1-0, 2.61 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 20.2 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 6.1 K/9

Ramos was eligible for the Rule 5 draft after the 2011 season, but wasn’t selected.  He alternated the first three months between the Altoona and Bradenton bullpens, then spent the last two months with the Marauders, including three starts in August.  Despite the much higher ERA in AA, he pitched about the same for both affiliates.  He had a much smaller platoon split this time.

2013
A+:  0-0-0, 0.63 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 14.1 IP, 1.9 BB/9, 3.8 K/9
AA:  3-2-1, 4.72 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 47.2 IP, 2.1 BB/9, 7.9 K/9

The Pirates sent Ramos back to Bradenton to start the season, but promoted him to Altoona in late April.  He pitched in relief all year, but didn’t have as good a season as usual once he was in AA.  Except for a good month of July, he got hit a little hard in AA.  He didn’t have much of a platoon split.

2014
AA:  5-6-2, 4.38 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 63.2 IP, 3.1 BB/9, 5.2 K/9
AAA:  0-1-0, 3.55 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 12.2 IP, 1.4 BB/9, 5.0 K/9

Ramos was eligible for minor league free agency but re-signed with the Pirates.  He pitched in relief for Altoona until late in June, when he moved up to AAA for the first time.  After three weeks at Indianapolis, he returned to Altoona and joined the rotation.  Ramos wasn’t especially effective in AA, although he was better in AAA.  Overall, opponents posted a 277/341/477 line against him.

Ramos will be a free agent again in the off-season.  He didn’t pitch all that well in 2014, so the Pirates might not bring him back again.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2014: Minor League Contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2007
MLB Debut: N/A
MiLB FA Eligible: Eligible
MLB FA Eligible: N/A
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: N/A
Options Remaining: 3
MLB Service Time: 0.000
TRANSACTIONS
August 24, 2006: Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an international free agent.
November 5, 2013: Became a free agent.
November 15, 2013: Signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a minor league free agent.