"Ramos is a kid with special talent. Being so young we have moved slowly with him since he joined the organization in 2013. We gave him 2.5 seasons in AA before he finally felt comfortable and his true talent starting coming out before sending him to AAA last season. We expected him to struggle in the starts that he had. In his 7 starts he had an ERA of around 4.50 and only had a 2:1 K/BB ratio, so we knew he had a ways to go. At the beginning of the season I never really thought we would be talking about him in a light like this," commented GM Josh Swain on Ramos.
Ramos struggled in April and came through about with the same statistics and ratios he had last season, but was walking fewer. In his first 2 starts in May he notched 2 wins pitching 15 innings, giving up 2 ER and having a 4:1 K/BB ratio. His signature start though came against Topeka on May 18th. Ramos went 7 shutout inning, giving up 5 hits, walking 3 and tying a league record with 15 K's. It got the attention of the baseball world, and also put him at 7-0 for AAA Tuscaloosa. He would continue baffling AAA hitters up through his last AAA start on June 30th where he would throw his first career shutout, giving up just 3 hits, walking no one and striking out 11. This took his record to 11-1, his ERA to 2.95 and fIP of 2.30. How do you keep a guy down after that performance?
He made his BSA debut on 7/5/2013, 2 days before the All Star break to face the Madison Bombers at home. He wasn't overwhelming but did go 8 strong innings, giving up 3 ER on 4 hits, walking 1 and striking out 3 for a no decision. He would get his first win 11 days later in his next start across the country against Pocatello. He again would throw 8 innings, this time only allowing 1 ER, 6 hits, 1 walk and 6 K's. He would beat rival Chicago before be humbled by the bats of Niagara Falls to bring his record to 2-1 entering August.
Ramos got 6 starts in August, 3 at home and 3 on the road. He went 6.2 IP in everyone of his starts, allowing 4 or less runs in every start and 4 /6 2 or less. He tallied a 5-1 record, getting his only loss in his last start at Chicago, allowing a season high 10 hits and 4 ER as well as 2 HR. His shiny 5-1 record compiled with a 2.62 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 24 K's gave him the CL Pitcher of the Month. This was the first recorded time that we could find of a Jersey pitching winning this award. Amazing with a staff that has featured pitchers like Macias, Ellis, Brito and Burgess that a 21 year old was the first to win it.
Even though GM Swain didn't expect Ramos to pitch for the big club this season, he could end up being their savior. 7 wins in his first 10 starts, as well as Ramos making 4 or 5 starts may be the reason they make the playoffs instead of being on the outside looking in. Either way, the kid has been everything he was advertised to be and more. I don't expect this will be his last POTM award.
GO D-BAGS
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