| Neil Ramírez | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Ramírez with theNew York Mets in 2017 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1989-05-25)May 25, 1989 (age 36) Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 25, 2014, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 30, 2019, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 4–8 |
| Earned run average | 4.46 |
| Strikeouts | 211 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Neil Andrew Ramírez (born May 25, 1989) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theChicago Cubs,Milwaukee Brewers,Minnesota Twins,San Francisco Giants,New York Mets,Cleveland Indians, andToronto Blue Jays.
Ramírez attended and played baseball atKempsville High School inVirginia Beach, Virginia. In high school, he was named the 2007Gatorade Virginia Baseball Player of the Year, made the East team roster at the 2006Aflac All-American Classic and won a silver medal with theUnited States at the 2006World Junior Baseball Championship in Cuba.Baseball America ranked him the 71st best draft prospect in 2007.[1][2][3]
Ramírez originally committed to playcollege baseball atGeorgia Tech but was selected by theTexas Rangers in the first round of the2007 Major League Baseball Draft and decided instead to sign a professional contract.[2][1]
Ramírez spent six years in the Rangers' farm system, playing for theSpokane Indians in 2008 and theHickory Crawdads in 2009 and 2010.
On August 17,2011 he was promoted toTriple-A atRound Rock in place ofEric Hurley who was placed on the disabled list with viral infection. Prior to his promotion, on July 15, Ramírez was sent to rehab in Double-AFrisco, Texas, due to a sore shoulder. He was quoted as saying toMLB.com that the absence had not bothered him.[4]
On November 18, 2011, Ramírez was added to the Rangers'40-man roster.[5]
On August 23, 2013, Ramírez was traded to theChicago Cubs as theplayer to be named later in the July 2013 trade ofMatt Garza.[6] By June 9, 2014, through 14 innings pitched, he had struck out 23 players while having a 0.71WHIP ratio.[7]
On June 5, 2014, Ramírez earned his first career save in a victory over theNew York Mets.
Ramírez finished the year with a 1.44 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched
On May 31, 2016, Ramírez was claimed off waivers by theMilwaukee Brewers.[8]
On June 12, 2016, Ramírez was claimed off waivers by theMinnesota Twins.[9] He made 8 appearances for Minnesota, struggling to a 6.14 ERA with 11 strikeouts across14+2⁄3 innings pitched. Ramírez was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–ARochester Red Wings on July 20.[10] In 16 outings for Rochester, he compiled a 3.10 ERA with 27 strikeouts across20+1⁄3 innings of work. Ramírez elected free agency following the season on November 7.[11]
On November 28, 2016, Ramírez signed a minor league contract with theSan Francisco Giants.[12] On April 1, the Giants announced that Ramírez had earned the team's finalOpening Daybullpen spot.[13] In 9 games for San Francisco, he recorded an 8.71 ERA with 18 strikeouts across10+1⁄3 innings pitched. On April 30, Ramírez was designated for assignment to create room forBryan Morris, who had his contract selected from Triple-A.
On May 4, 2017, Ramírez was claimed off waivers by theToronto Blue Jays.[14] He was designated for assignment on May 9 without having thrown a pitch for the Blue Jays. On May 14, Ramírez elected free agency after being outrighted to the minor leagues.[15]
On May 16, 2017, theNew York Mets signed Ramírez.[16] On July 20, the Metsdesignated Ramírez for assignment.
On July 27, 2017, Ramírez signed a minor league deal with theWashington Nationals. In 14 games for the Triple–ASyracuse Chiefs, he registered a 6.14 ERA with 20 strikeouts in14+2⁄3 innings pitched. Ramírez elected free agency following the season on November 6.[17]
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Ramírez signed a minor league contract with theCleveland Indians on November 30, 2017.[18] The Indians purchased Ramírez's contract on May 15, 2018.[19] He finished the season with an ERA of 4.54 in41+2⁄3 innings, his most output since his rookie season in 2014.
He began the 2019 season in the bullpen. He was designated for assignment by the Indians on May 18, 2019, after registering an ERA of 5.40 in16+2⁄3 innings.[20] After clearing waivers, Ramírez accepted a minor league assignment to theColumbus Clippers, the Indians' Triple-A affiliate, on May 23, 2019.[21] He was released on August 2, 2019.
On August 6, 2019, Ramírez signed a minor league contract with theToronto Blue Jays. He was called up by the Blue Jays on August 11.[22] On September 1, Ramirez was designated for assignment.[23] He declared free agency on September 4.
On December 22, 2019, Ramírez signed a minor league deal with theLos Angeles Angels that included an invitation to Spring Training. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[24] Ramírez was released by the Angels organization on September 1, 2020.
On April 28, 2023, after several years of inactivity, Ramírez signed with theHigh Point Rockers of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[25] In 10 games (8 starts) for the Rockers, he logged a 2–3 record and 4.82 ERA with 37 strikeouts across37+1⁄3 innings pitched.
On April 15, 2024, Ramírez re–signed with High Point.[26] In 17 games (12 starts) for the Rockers, he posted a 5–4 record and 4.83 ERA with 75 strikeouts over 69 innings. Ramírez was released by High Point on August 13.[27]
According toBaseball America, Ramírez is 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall, weighs 210 pounds (95 kg), and can throw his fastball at 97 miles per hour (156 km/h).[28]
Ramírez married Tiffany in October 2014.[29]
· Baseball Almanac