| Nick Ramirez | |
|---|---|
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1989-08-01)August 1, 1989 (age 35) Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 11, 2019, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 7–7 |
| Earned run average | 4.21 |
| Strikeouts | 132 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Nicholas Randolph Ramirez (born August 1, 1989) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theDetroit Tigers,San Diego Padres,New York Yankees, andLos Angeles Dodgers.
Ramirez playedcollege baseball for theCal State Fullerton Titans before theMilwaukee Brewers selected him in the2011 MLB draft as afirst baseman. After converting into arelief pitcher in 2017, Ramirez made his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2019. After pitching for Detroit through the 2020 season, he pitched for the Padres in 2021 and the Yankees in 2023.
Ramirez attendedKatella High School inAnaheim, California.[1] He enrolled atCalifornia State University, Fullerton and playedcollege baseball for theCal State Fullerton Titans as afirst baseman andpitcher. As the Titans'closer, Ramirez was 16-for-16 in convertingsave opportunities. In 2011, he was named theBig West Conference's player of the year.[2]
TheMilwaukee Brewers selected Ramirez in the fourth round, with the 131st overall selection, of the2011 Major League Baseball draft as a first baseman.[3] He split his first professional season between the rookie–levelHelena Brewers and Single–AWisconsin Timber Rattlers, batting acumulative .271/.305/.496 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI.[3] He returned to Wisconsin in 2012, playing in 96 games and hitting .248/.295/.447 with 16 home runs and 70 RBI.[4] Ramirez spent the 2013 season with the High–ABrevard County Manatees, playing in 134 games and batting .258/.326/.438 with career–highs in home runs (19) and RBI (81).[5] He was promoted to the Double–A in 2014, but repeated the level three times.[6] In parts of six seasons in Double–A (with theHuntsville Stars andBiloxi Shuckers of theDouble ASouthern League), he batted .229/.324/.405 with 50 home runs and 198 RBI.[7]
Through the 2017 season, Ramirezbatted .242 with 96home runs and 403runs batted in, but he alsostruck out 748 times in 2,380at bats.[2] In 2017, the Brewers converted Ramirez into a pitcher.[6] Returning to Biloxi, Ramirez had a 7–4win–loss record in 48 relief appearances with a 1.38earned run average (ERA) while holding opponents to a .199batting average against.[8] He earned a late-season promotion to the Triple–AColorado Springs Sky Sox.[9] Ramirez also made 32plate appearances in 2017 as a first baseman orpinch hitter.[8] He became a free agent after the season,[10] but re-signed with Milwaukee on a minor league contract on January 10, 2018.[11] In 2018, he had an 8–0 record with Biloxi in nineteen relief appearances, and held batters to just .159.[8] However, he went 3–3 with Colorado Springs over twenty appearances, but finished with a 5.73 ERA while opponents hit .297 off him.[8] Ramirez elected free agency following the season on November 2, 2018.[12]
On December 19, 2018, Ramirez signed a minor league contract with theDetroit Tigers.[13] The Tigers promoted Ramirez to the major leagues for the first time on May 10, 2019.[14] At time of promotion he had pitched in five games, three for Double-AErie SeaWolves and two for Triple-AToledo Mud Hens, starting all five. He held a 1–1 record, 2.31 ERA, and 30 strikeouts to only five walks.[8]
On May 11, Ramirez made his major league debut against theMinnesota Twins, pitching four innings of relief in the second game of a doubleheader.[15] He allowed one run on six hits, while striking out five batters, the first of which wasMitch Garver.[16] Ramirez earned his first major league win with three perfect innings of relief in a May 29 game against theBaltimore Orioles.[17] For the season, Ramirez went 5–4 with a 4.07 ERA and 74 strikeouts.[18] He led all Tiger relievers with79+2⁄3 innings out of the bullpen[19] but was outrighted off the Tigers roster after the season ended.[20] He was re-signed to a new minor league contract after becoming a free agent on November 7, 2019.[21]
When the 2020 minor league season was cancelled because of theCOVID-19 pandemic, Ramirez was assigned to the Tigers alternate training site.[22] He was called up to the active roster on September 9.[23] Ramirez appeared in five games, compiling a 0–0 record with 5.91 ERA and 11 strikeouts in10+2⁄3 innings pitched.[24] On October 27, he was outrighted off of the 40-man roster, and elected free agency.[25]
On December 21, 2020, Ramirez signed a minor league contract with theSan Diego Padres.[26] On April 17, 2021, he was selected to the active roster to take the place of the injuredDan Altavilla.[27] He made 13 appearances in 2021, going 1–1 with a 5.75 ERA and 14 strikeouts.[18] Ramirez wasdesignated for assignment by the Padres on September 17[28] and elected free agency on October 6.[29]
On April 9, 2022, Ramirez signed a minor league contract with theSeattle Mariners organization.[30] He made 53 appearances for the Triple-ATacoma Rainiers, logging a 3–4 record and 2.93 ERA with 53 strikeouts and 16 saves in55+1⁄3 innings pitched[8] and elected free agency following the season on November 10.[31]
On December 15, 2022, Ramirez signed a minor league contract with theNew York Yankees organization.[32] He began the 2023 season with the Triple-AScranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, making 8 appearances and registering a 1.74 ERA with 7 strikeouts in10+1⁄3 innings of work.[8] On April 25, he was selected to the Yankees active roster.[33] In 32 relief appearances for them, he recorded a 2.66 ERA with 28 strikeouts across40+2⁄3 innings pitched.[18] Ramirez was optioned to Scranton to begin the 2024 season.[34] However, he was designated for assignment by the Yankees on March 30, without appearing in any games.[35]
On April 2, 2024, the Yankees traded Ramirez to theLos Angeles Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations.[36] The Dodgers assigned him to the Triple–AOklahoma City Baseball Club.[37] After just one appearance in the minors, he was called up to the majors on April 13.[38] He was designated for assignment on July 30,[39] cleared waivers and was outrighted back to Oklahoma City on August 2.[40] On September 8, Ramirez was added back to the major league roster,[41] where he pitched in one more game before he was again designated for assignment on September 10.[42] Ramirez cleared waivers and was again outrighted to Oklahoma City on September 12.[43] On the season, he appeared in eight games for Los Angeles, with nine earned runs allowed in 31 innings[18] and in 28 games in Oklahoma City, he posted a 4.37 ERA with 28 strikeouts across 35 innings.[8] Ramirez elected free agency on October 31.[44]
Ramirez and his wife, Tiffany, were married in 2018. They share a son, Reese, and daughter, Cru.[45] His father, Randy, pitched forLong Beach State University and theSeattle Mariners organization, reaching Double-A.[46]