Heliot Ramos OF. DOB: 9/7/1999. B-R, T-R. 6'1", 188 lbs.
2021(AA): .237/.323/.432, 10 HR, 7 SB, 10.2 BB%, 27.4 K%, 266 PA.
2021(AAA): .272/.323/.399, 4 HR, 8 SB, 6.6 BB%, 28.4 K%, 229 PA.
It's a bit challenging to get a good read on Heliot Ramos which is probably why his stock has slipped a bit. The numbers are good but not dominating. On the other hand, he split time between AA and AAA in his age 21 season which is quite young for the levels. Of course the corollary to that is we have every right to expect him to come back this year and dominate AAA and force the MLB door open.
The BB% at AA is encouraging. My own "eyeball" metric for BB% is anything over 10 is excellent, 8-10 is good, 6-8 is OK. Under 6 is a big red flag. Of course BB% has to be interpreted in context. In general, higher BB%'s tend to correlate with higher K rates because 1. You can't strike out unless you get to a two-strike count first. Patient hitters tend to have more two-strike counts. 2. If I understand correctly, the Giants teach their hitters to not shorten up their swings and "protect the plate" on two strike counts. They are willing to accept more K's in return for more long ball ops. With that said, my "rule of thumb" metric for K% is <15% is elite, 15-20% is good, 20-25% acceptable, 25-30% worrisome and over 30% is "red flag" territory. Ramos' ratios are not great but not terrible either and he appears to be capable of improvement after adjustment to level.
The last issue with Ramos is body type. Last year, Fangraphs described him as a "boulder stacked on two Iberico hams". Just looking at some video footage from last season, I am quite sure Heliot weighs way more than his listed 188 lbs. Granted, almost all of that weight appears to be muscle but it's a body that appears to be at risk for not aging well and you have to wonder if it currently qualifies for being "muscle bound". In trying to think of comps for OF's with that body type, I would put forward Kirby Puckett, Perhaps Torii Hunter, Ron Leflore and if you want to go back to my childhood days, the "Toy Cannon", Jim Wynn.
I am almost certain the Giants will add a frontline OF before the season starts but if they don't, there is an outside chance Heliot Ramos will start the season on the 26 man active roster but more likely he goes back to AAA where the hope is he will dominate and position himself for a midseason opportunity.
For some reason, I sense if there is a high level minor league prospect used as trade bait, Heliot may be the guy. Giants have some depth in the minors and he appears to offer the best combination of skills and question marks where someone may be higher on him then we are. I'd say Bishop may be in a similar boat but he hasn't the success that Heliot has had and is more questionable perhaps.
ReplyDeleteBilly Baseball
You may be right.
DeleteSometimes, you can look at a guy too closely. Bryan Reynolds? Not that big. Athleticism is nothing special. Yes, he does many things well, but not anything one thing in particular great. Adam Duvall? I know, I know, he hits HRs - but he strikes out a lot and he is not that great at 3b. Heliot Ramos strikes me as one of those "other guys". Will he be Barry Bonds? Perhaps not. But he could be one of those "other guys", guys that get a lot done, quietly. Guys like JT Snow, Rich Aurilia, Ellis Burks, even (sometimes not so quietly) Jeff Kent. They may not be the star but they can often be one of those other guys - guys who do not jump out at you and get all the attention but can do a lot of damage, often out of the spotlight.
ReplyDeleteI think that Heliot Ramos could be one of those guys. I hope the Giants are willing to find out.
At some point you have to give up value in prospects if you want to win now. It doesn't always work out the way you want. Over the years, it's worked in the Giants favor a lot more than it hasn't.
DeleteThe comp names I dropped suggest Heliot Ramos body type might not prevent him from being a very good, if not great, player.
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