Today we look at the switch-hitting prospect from Venezuela.
Pedro Javier Ramirez is 21 years old and won’t be 22 until April Fool’s Day, which he will most likely spend in Iowa. He has a chance to reach The Show to start the year, but it’s a relatively small chance and he can likely use the time to hone his craft.
In five years, Ramirez has risen through the Cubs system, starting at Myrtle Beach, where he was a Pelican, and moving on to South Bend and Knoxville. He sports a lifetime MiLB slash of .291/.362/.412, which is not bad at all. He has decent wheels, having stolen 86 bases during his time in the organization, and boasts a .774 OPS, again, not bad. He strikes out a bit but in general gets good wood on the ball with a level stroke — his power is limited but he looks to have an MLB future, perhaps as a utility man with starter upside.
He’s a little guy — 5’9”, 165. Unlikely that he’ll develop any more than 10-homer power, but you never know. He can flash some glove — I’ve seen him play a little, and no doubt Josh could tell you more, and probably has, but his time is next year and beyond, I’d say. He does play third, short, and second base, though his numbers have a heavy middle-infield sort of lean.
We’ll have to see how he develops, along with tomorrow’s featuree James Triantos, and the Cubs will have to determine whether they are kept in-house or dealt for other players. Both have room to grow.
But… this bears repeating. Ramirez’ glove is for real and his bat does have life to it.