Ramos homers twice in one frame for Loons
There are less than 20 MLB players from Panama, but on Tuesday, Jose Ramos showed why he may be the next Major Leaguer to come out of his country. The No. 14 Dodgers prospect homered twice in one inning and finished 3-for-5 with a career-high seven RBIs in High-A Great
There are less than 20 MLB players from Panama, but on Tuesday, Jose Ramos showed why he may be the next Major Leaguer to come out of his country.
The No. 14 Dodgers prospect homered twice in one inning and finished 3-for-5 with a career-high seven RBIs in High-A Great Lakes' 14-9 win over Quad Cities.
At the start of the season, Ramos produced big numbers, slashing .310/.398/.648 in the month of April in Single-A. But coming into Tuesday's game, the outfielder had an average of .226 without an RBI in July. Ramos knew he had to turn things around.
“I really focused on doing my job today at the plate,” he said in Spanish. “I had to lock in given the struggles I have been having, especially last week.”
Ramos turned things around for himself and the Loons in the fifth inning. Trailing, 7-4, he crushed the first ball of his at-bat against right-hander Harrison Beethe to left-center field for a two-run shot.
Great Lakes added three more runs in the frame before setting up Ramos' next at-bat with the bases loaded against righty Chase Wallace. The 21-year-old wanted to “wait for the right pitch and make good contact with it.” The mission was accomplished in the third pitch of the at-bat with a grand slam to left-center.
“I was very emotional,” Ramos said. “I have never accomplished that and may never get a chance to do it again. It’s rare.”
5th inning for @greatlakesloons:
— Brad Tunney (@brad_tunney) July 13, 2022
HBP
𝟮𝗥 𝗛𝗥 (𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘀)
BB
1B
BB
RBI HBP
RBI 1B
RBI SAC Fly
K
BB
𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗟𝗔𝗠 (𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘀)
BB
ROE
K
😵🤕😵
The big night brought up his homer tally to 17 on the season, as Ramos has continued to hit for more power after swatting just two long balls in 2019 and 11 last year. He added an RBI double to left, his 12th two-bagger of the season, in the ninth.
“I have definitely worked on it and hope to keep hitting more,” he said.
Nights like Tuesday's are what Ramos has been striving for since he started playing baseball at age 4. The journey started in large part due to his parents, who were the inspirations behind his baseball career.
Ramos' dream started to become a reality in 2018, when the Dodgers signed him to a Minor League contract. He went on to play in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2019 and slashed .275/.362/.377 in 57 games.
After COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 season, Ramos returned in 2021 in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League, where he went .383/.456/.633 with an OPS of 1.089. That July, he was bumped up to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, and he finished the year by going .313/.377/.559 in 47 games with the Quakes.
He started this year back in Single-A, but moved up to the Midwest League after going .277/.391/.518 in 28 games. It has taken time for Ramos to adjust to the callup, but the production is starting to come. He's compiled a slash line of .257/.333/.533 with 25 extra-base hits and 45 RBIs in 47 games.
As Ramos continues to ascend the ladder, he plans on enjoying the journey.
"I am very proud to be from Panama and being able to represent my country," he said. "I am having fun. I like the job that I am doing and I have fun with it every day I can."