BREAKING NEWS; NATS SIGNING RAMIREZ MAKES A BIG STATEMENT REGARDING HIS MOVE.
Two weeks ago, the Nationals signed Harold Ramírez to a minor league contract with the intention of using him as a backup right-handed bat against left-handed pitchers. With a.339 batting average against left-handed pitching since 2020, he joined the Nats this week, leading all major leaguers in that regard. That may be quite beneficial for a team that is among the worst in the league at hitting southpaws.
Before being designated for assignment and dismissed by the Rays, Ramírez was hitting.268 in 48 games, not bad by league standards. After hitting.300 in each of the previous two seasons, there wasn’t much consistency or power (.305 slugging percentage and.589 OPS).
Really, the question wasn’t whether Ramírez could regain his hitting prowess. It was something like this: How does he feel about being assigned in the middle of the season?
As he reported to the Nats in San Diego on Monday, the 29-year-old had a talk with the team’s executives. And confidence was the main topic of that discussion.
“We recently discussed confidence,” Ramírez remarked. “When I hit, what can I do? We are thrilled that I’m here. I’m always confident because that’s what matters most to me.
The Nationals would adore it if Ramírez could return to his former level of.300 batting. However, that is not what is expected of him. Even still, he should aim for it because he has done it before.
He declared, “I have to make the most of every at-bat I have, just like I did before.” “I simply need to take a sensible approach. I merely need to compete after warming up my routine.
After agreeing to a minor league contract, Ramírez reported to Triple-A Rochester to start that work. He posted multi-hit performances in four of his seven games with the Red Wings, going 9-for-24 (.375) with a double, four RBIs, six walks, and a run scored. “I spent like two weeks and a half not playing, so I really tried to get my timing back,” he remarked. Thus, I was merely honing my timing. I simply feel ready to leave.
Upon his arrival, Ramírez, a six-year veteran who has also played in Miami and Cleveland, was already acquainted with several of his new colleagues, such as Joey Meneses, Eddie Rosario, Ildemaro Vargas, and Keibert Ruiz. However, he was also aware of the youthful team’s overall prospects and its goals.
We have a really excellent team, in my opinion, Ramírez stated. “Young men. We are excellent baseball players. Right now, we are set up nicely for the wild card. I simply want to be a part of it. He is an excellent teammate. Manager Davey Martinez stated, “He really is.” He enjoys playing the game a lot. We adore the fact that he is a competitor. We conducted our due diligence prior to his termination, and the other teams expressed nothing but positive things about him. He is an excellent teammate. I know that some of the coaches there told me this guy is outstanding when I spoke with them when he was there. He is assisting all of our younger players by giving them small hitting lessons. I said, “We can also use that here.” Thus, we’re excited to introduce him to the public.
With reference to his hair and cleats, he added, “I really do it because my two sons have autism.” “All I want is for individuals with autism to be aware of them. I thus do it because I love my sons.
Even after just a few days with the team, his smile has already spread across them. Now that Ramírez has a fresh opportunity in the major leagues, he will make the most of it. Naturally, his second series with the Nats will take place in Tampa Bay, as fate would have it.
He answered, “I really am that way all the time.” I just make an effort to have fun. I’m grinning all the time. I play about like a child all the time. That’s how I’m like that.