Wilson Ramos
Encyclopedia
Wilson Abraham Ramos is a Major League Baseball
catcher
for the Washington Nationals
. He is 6' tall, weighs 221 lbs., and throws and bats right-handed. He signed with the Minnesota Twins
as a non-drafted free agent
on July 7, .
. In , with the Twins' High-A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle
, he batted .242 with eight home runs and 42 runs batted in in the first half of the 2008 season, helping his team capture the Florida State League
first-half West Division title. When 2008 Florida State League All-Star catcher James Skelton of the Lakeland Flying Tigers suffered an injury, Ramos was added to the West Division All-Star team, joining teammates Robert Delaney
, Brian Dinkelman
, Jeff Manship
, Anthony Slama
and Danny Valencia
.
Ramos' batting average
jumped to .333 in the second half of 2008. For the season, he batted .288 with thirteen home runs, and was named to the All FSL Team. His 78 RBIs was fourth in the Florida State League.
Ramos entered the season ranked as the Twins third best prospect by Baseball America
behind Aaron Hicks and Ben Revere
, and #71 in all of minor league baseball
. The Twins added Ramos to their 40 man roster, and invited him to Spring training
. After which, he was assigned to the Twins' double A Eastern League affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats
. He broke his right index finger in May and suffered a hamstring injury in June, forcing him to do a nearly two month rehab assignment, during which he hit three home runs in five games with the Gulf Coast League Twins
. Ramos rejoined his team in August, and batted .317 with four home runs and 29 RBIs for the season.
behind the plate, the Twins sent Ramos to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
rather than have him serve in a back-up role in the majors.
He received his first major league call-up on May 1, when Mauer was sidelined by a bruised left heel and was limited to emergency pinch hitting. Ramos took the roster spot of Pat Neshek
, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 29 with inflammation of the middle finger on his right hand.
On May 2, facing the Cleveland Indians
, Ramos slapped a single between third base and the shortstop
in the top of the second inning for his first major league hit. Ramos went four-for-five on the day with three singles
and a double
. He is the first Twins player since Kirby Puckett
in to collect four hits in a major league debut, and the only catcher in modern history (since 1900) to collect four hits in his MLB debut.
On May 3 he followed up his debut by going 3 for 4 and driving in his first RBI. All told, he played seven games with the Twins while filling in for Mauer, batting .296 with three doubles and one RBI. On May 13, with Mauer ready to return to action, and José Morales
coming off the DL, Ramos was reassigned to Rochester.
along with Joe Testa for closer
Matt Capps
.
In 2011, Ramos was chosen by Baseball America as the catcher on its All-Rookie Team.
and was taken away in an SUV. Ramos was with his family at the time. On November 10, 2011 at 4:00 pm local time, Ramos was reported alive. Originally back in his homeland to play during the offseason for his Venezuelan team
, Tigres de Aragua
, Ramos was rescued after two days, and eight suspects were soon in custody. "What they did was laugh, joke about my pain," Ramos said in brief remarks on television. He has said he expects to be on the field playing for the Tigers again soon. "I'm very thankful, and I feel like I've been born again."
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. He is 6' tall, weighs 221 lbs., and throws and bats right-handed. He signed with the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
as a non-drafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on July 7, .
Minor leagues
Ramos has caught 43% of potential base stealers in his minor league career, and has a .987 fielding percentageFielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. In , with the Twins' High-A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
, he batted .242 with eight home runs and 42 runs batted in in the first half of the 2008 season, helping his team capture the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
first-half West Division title. When 2008 Florida State League All-Star catcher James Skelton of the Lakeland Flying Tigers suffered an injury, Ramos was added to the West Division All-Star team, joining teammates Robert Delaney
Robert Delaney
Robert Delaney is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. He pitches right-handed, but bats lefty.Delaney attended Pascack Valley High School....
, Brian Dinkelman
Brian Dinkelman
Brian Adam Dinkelman is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Minnesota Twins. Dinkelman was born on November 10, 1983, in Centralia, Illinois. After graduating from Centralia High School in 2002, Dinkelman attended McKendree University and graduated in 2006; he was later...
, Jeff Manship
Jeff Manship
Jeffrey Michael Manship is a right-handed pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He was the Twins' 14th round selection of the June 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.-Amateur career:...
, Anthony Slama
Anthony Slama
Anthony Thomas Slama is a relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He is 6'3", and weighs 207 lbs., and bats and throws right-handed....
and Danny Valencia
Danny Valencia
Daniel Paul Valencia is a third baseman for the Minnesota Twins.In high school, he was all-county three times and all-state twice. In college, he was Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, second-team all-conference, and on his all-regional team...
.
Ramos' batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
jumped to .333 in the second half of 2008. For the season, he batted .288 with thirteen home runs, and was named to the All FSL Team. His 78 RBIs was fourth in the Florida State League.
Ramos entered the season ranked as the Twins third best prospect by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
behind Aaron Hicks and Ben Revere
Ben Revere
Ben Daniel Revere is an outfielder for the Minnesota Twins.-Minors:Before the Twins made Revere their first-round pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft, he went to Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, KY where he led them to the state title and was named MVP his junior year .He...
, and #71 in all of minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. The Twins added Ramos to their 40 man roster, and invited him to Spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. After which, he was assigned to the Twins' double A Eastern League affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats
New Britain Rock Cats
The New Britain Rock Cats are the Double-A minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club. They compete in the Eastern League and play their home games at New Britain Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut.-History:...
. He broke his right index finger in May and suffered a hamstring injury in June, forcing him to do a nearly two month rehab assignment, during which he hit three home runs in five games with the Gulf Coast League Twins
Gulf Coast League Twins
The Gulf Coast League Twins are the Rookie "A" Level Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Lee County Sports Complex....
. Ramos rejoined his team in August, and batted .317 with four home runs and 29 RBIs for the season.
Minnesota Twins
Ramos batted over .400 in spring training in . However, with Joe MauerJoe Mauer
Joseph Patrick Mauer is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Minnesota Twins. He is the only catcher in Major League history to win three batting titles...
behind the plate, the Twins sent Ramos to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
rather than have him serve in a back-up role in the majors.
He received his first major league call-up on May 1, when Mauer was sidelined by a bruised left heel and was limited to emergency pinch hitting. Ramos took the roster spot of Pat Neshek
Pat Neshek
Patrick J. Neshek is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Neshek is a graduate of Park Center Senior High School in Minnesota and of Butler University.-Early career:...
, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 29 with inflammation of the middle finger on his right hand.
On May 2, facing the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Ramos slapped a single between third base and the shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in the top of the second inning for his first major league hit. Ramos went four-for-five on the day with three singles
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
and a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. He is the first Twins player since Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett
Kirby Puckett was a Major League Baseball center fielder. He played his entire 12-year baseball career with the Minnesota Twins and he is the Twins franchise's all-time leader in career hits, runs, doubles, and total bases...
in to collect four hits in a major league debut, and the only catcher in modern history (since 1900) to collect four hits in his MLB debut.
On May 3 he followed up his debut by going 3 for 4 and driving in his first RBI. All told, he played seven games with the Twins while filling in for Mauer, batting .296 with three doubles and one RBI. On May 13, with Mauer ready to return to action, and José Morales
José Morales
José Manuel Morales Hernández is a former designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for five different teams between and...
coming off the DL, Ramos was reassigned to Rochester.
Washington Nationals
On July 29, 2010, Ramos was traded to the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
along with Joe Testa for closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
Matt Capps
Matt Capps
Matthew Dicus Capps , is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He is a 2002 graduate of Alexander High School in Douglasville, where he lettered in football, basketball, cross-country and baseball before receiving a scholarship at LSU...
.
In 2011, Ramos was chosen by Baseball America as the catcher on its All-Rookie Team.
2011 abduction and rescue in Venezuela
On November 9, 2011 at approximately 6:45 pm local time, Ramos was approached by four armed men near his home in Valencia, VenezuelaVenezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and was taken away in an SUV. Ramos was with his family at the time. On November 10, 2011 at 4:00 pm local time, Ramos was reported alive. Originally back in his homeland to play during the offseason for his Venezuelan team
Baseball in Venezuela
Baseball in Venezuela originates with the early twentieth century cultural influence of United States oil companies, and is the country's leading sport. The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League is a winter league that was established in 1945, with Leones del Caracas the leading team; another...
, Tigres de Aragua
Tigres de Aragua
The Tigres de Aragua are a baseball team that plays in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.Founded in 1965, they play at the Estadio José Perez Colmenares in Maracay...
, Ramos was rescued after two days, and eight suspects were soon in custody. "What they did was laugh, joke about my pain," Ramos said in brief remarks on television. He has said he expects to be on the field playing for the Tigers again soon. "I'm very thankful, and I feel like I've been born again."