Manny Ramirez

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #1 prospect in 1994
  Ramirez has made a rapid climb through the organization since being the 13th player chosen in the 1991 draft. Few hitters drafted out of high school become dominant at every minor league level by age 21. But that’s exactly what Ramirez has done. In three minor league seasons, he has averaged .316-21-80 and 332 at-bats. His monster 1993 earned him Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year award, and he’s arguably the most prolific and eagerly anticipated hitter ever produced by the Indians system. Ramirez produced one of the Indians’ more electrifying moments when, in his second major league game and his first in his hometown, he blasted two home runs and a double in Yankee Stadium. Ramirez’s bat is his main tool--but what a tool. He’s a wondrously instinctive, front-foot hitter who can snap balls to the opposite field with power or jerk them to left. Ramirez is both a dangerous power hitter and a lethal batsmith, projectable into the 30-homer, .300 range. Weaknesses: Ramirez is still a boy trapped in a man’s body. Lack of maturity is his biggest drawback. He’s not a bad kid, just an incredibly naive one. He also needs to improve his baserunning skills and very shaky outfield defense. Future: Ramirez is the Tribe’s right fielder of the future, but barring a month-long, lights-out trashing of the Grapefruit League pitchers, he’ll begin the 1994 season in Triple-A. He’s already proven he can hit there but needs to do a little more growing up. And with a Wayne Kirby-Ruben Amaro platoon, the Indians are comfortable with their right field situation for now.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #1 prospect in 1993
  It’s numbers like these that can test an organization’s patience: In his two summers of professional baseball, Ramirez, who missed the second half of last season with a hand injury, has gotten 506 at-bats. That’s roughly the equivalent of one full season. His numbers: a .298 average, 32 home runs, 126 RBIs, 29 doubles, eight triples, 96 runs and 79 walks. And Ramirez is just 20. Though his numbers scream for a fast track to the major leagues, Tribe officials vow not to rush him. The consensus is that it’s just a matter of time. The Tribe’s first-round pick (13th overall) in the 1991 draft needs only to see some upper-level minor league pitching before rising to the major leagues. "It’s just a matter of him getting experience by playing a little more, and experiencing life as well. Learning to make decisions on his own,” Indians director of baseball operations Dan O’Dowd said. “There are no glaring holes in his game.” In 1992 at high Class A Kinston, Ramirez injured the hamate bone in his left hand on July 4 and sat out the rest of the season. A couple of months of rest did wonders for the hand injury, and Ramirez hardly missed a beat when he reported to instructional league. While Ramirez has hit virtually from day one as a professional, his defense is below-average. He has worked hard to improve it. In 1991 he played mostly left field, but as he has matured physically his arm has gotten stronger. He was moved to right field in instructional league. Though he has had just a year and a half of experience, Ramirez might start 1993 at Triple-A Charlotte. The Indians are trying hard to be patient. Honest.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #3 prospect in 1992
  It’s been a long time since any first-year Indians player hit with the impact that Ramirez did in nearly winning the Rookie-level Appalachian League triple crown. Voted the MVP and top prospect in the league, Ramirez exceeded even the most optimistic hopes. Ramirez had little trouble adjusting to wooden bats. His .679 slugging percentage led all of professional baseball. “He did some things as an 18-year-old that some guys in the big leagues can’t do,” said Johnny Goryl, the Indians' director of minor league field operations. Drafted as a third baseman/outfielder, Ramirez showed enough defensively to get slotted as a center fielder. The kid just needs to play. And the Indians need to guard against rushing him.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #2 prospect in 1993
  Another precocious prospect (behind No. 1 Cliff Floyd), Ramirez began the season hitting and kept swinging a steady bat all the way to the big leagues. Ramirez accumulated just enough plate appearances with Canton to win the Eastern League batting title, then was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte. “Manny is one of the best pure hitters I’ve seen,” Canton manager Brian Graham said. “And he improved in the outfield.”
• 
  Ranked Carolina League #3 prospect in 1992
  Every manager wondered what kind of numbers Ramirez would have posted if he hadn’t been injured. The Indians’ first-round pick in 1991 struggled early in the season with Kinston, baffled by the better breaking pitches in the Carolina League. But the 20-year-old made the adjustments and was tearing up the league before a bruised hand, suffered while swinging, effectively ended his season in early July. “Before he got hurt, he was probably the best player in this league,” Frederick manager Bobby Miscik said. “He’s got all the tools, and he’s still a young kid.”
• 
  Ranked American League #1 prospect in 1991
  Ramirez arrived in North Carolina as a startled city kid, but he wasn’t shy against Appalachian League pitchers. He hit .326-19-63 to break Burlington team records in home runs and RBIs. “I’m probably a little biased,” Burlington manager Dave Keller said. “But it’s been nice to see him play every day. The only thing he doesn’t do as well as anticipated is steal bases. I think in time speed will come. I don’t think there’s anyone in his class.”

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #7 prospect in 1994
• Ranked Baseball America's #13 prospect in 1993
• Ranked Baseball America's #37 prospect in 1992

• December, 1993 Scouting Report
  Ramirez has made a rapid climb through the organization since being the 13th player chosen in the 1991 draft. Few hitters drafted out of high school become dominant at every minor league level by age 21. But that’s exactly what Ramirez has done. In three minor league seasons, he has averaged .316-21-80 and 332 at-bats. His monster 1993 earned him Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year award, and he’s arguably the most prolific and eagerly anticipated hitter ever produced by the Indians system. Ramirez produced one of the Indians’ more electrifying moments when, in his second major league game and his first in his hometown, he blasted two home runs and a double in Yankee Stadium. Ramirez’s bat is his main tool--but what a tool. He’s a wondrously instinctive, front-foot hitter who can snap balls to the opposite field with power or jerk them to left. Ramirez is both a dangerous power hitter and a lethal batsmith, projectable into the 30-homer, .300 range. Weaknesses: Ramirez is still a boy trapped in a man’s body. Lack of maturity is his biggest drawback. He’s not a bad kid, just an incredibly naive one. He also needs to improve his baserunning skills and very shaky outfield defense. Future: Ramirez is the Tribe’s right fielder of the future, but barring a month-long, lights-out trashing of the Grapefruit League pitchers, he’ll begin the 1994 season in Triple-A. He’s already proven he can hit there but needs to do a little more growing up. And with a Wayne Kirby-Ruben Amaro platoon, the Indians are comfortable with their right field situation for now.
• December, 1992 Scouting Report
  It’s numbers like these that can test an organization’s patience: In his two summers of professional baseball, Ramirez, who missed the second half of last season with a hand injury, has gotten 506 at-bats. That’s roughly the equivalent of one full season. His numbers: a .298 average, 32 home runs, 126 RBIs, 29 doubles, eight triples, 96 runs and 79 walks. And Ramirez is just 20. Though his numbers scream for a fast track to the major leagues, Tribe officials vow not to rush him. The consensus is that it’s just a matter of time. The Tribe’s first-round pick (13th overall) in the 1991 draft needs only to see some upper-level minor league pitching before rising to the major leagues. "It’s just a matter of him getting experience by playing a little more, and experiencing life as well. Learning to make decisions on his own,” Indians director of baseball operations Dan O’Dowd said. “There are no glaring holes in his game.” In 1992 at high Class A Kinston, Ramirez injured the hamate bone in his left hand on July 4 and sat out the rest of the season. A couple of months of rest did wonders for the hand injury, and Ramirez hardly missed a beat when he reported to instructional league. While Ramirez has hit virtually from day one as a professional, his defense is below-average. He has worked hard to improve it. In 1991 he played mostly left field, but as he has matured physically his arm has gotten stronger. He was moved to right field in instructional league. Though he has had just a year and a half of experience, Ramirez might start 1993 at Triple-A Charlotte. The Indians are trying hard to be patient. Honest.
• December, 1992 Scouting Report
  Another precocious prospect (behind No. 1 Cliff Floyd), Ramirez began the season hitting and kept swinging a steady bat all the way to the big leagues. Ramirez accumulated just enough plate appearances with Canton to win the Eastern League batting title, then was promoted to Triple-A Charlotte. “Manny is one of the best pure hitters I’ve seen,” Canton manager Brian Graham said. “And he improved in the outfield.”
• December, 1991 Scouting Report
  It’s been a long time since any first-year Indians player hit with the impact that Ramirez did in nearly winning the Rookie-level Appalachian League triple crown. Voted the MVP and top prospect in the league, Ramirez exceeded even the most optimistic hopes. Ramirez had little trouble adjusting to wooden bats. His .679 slugging percentage led all of professional baseball. “He did some things as an 18-year-old that some guys in the big leagues can’t do,” said Johnny Goryl, the Indians' director of minor league field operations. Drafted as a third baseman/outfielder, Ramirez showed enough defensively to get slotted as a center fielder. The kid just needs to play. And the Indians need to guard against rushing him.
• December, 1991 Scouting Report
  Every manager wondered what kind of numbers Ramirez would have posted if he hadn’t been injured. The Indians’ first-round pick in 1991 struggled early in the season with Kinston, baffled by the better breaking pitches in the Carolina League. But the 20-year-old made the adjustments and was tearing up the league before a bruised hand, suffered while swinging, effectively ended his season in early July. “Before he got hurt, he was probably the best player in this league,” Frederick manager Bobby Miscik said. “He’s got all the tools, and he’s still a young kid.”
• December, 1990 Scouting Report
  Ramirez arrived in North Carolina as a startled city kid, but he wasn’t shy against Appalachian League pitchers. He hit .326-19-63 to break Burlington team records in home runs and RBIs. “I’m probably a little biased,” Burlington manager Dave Keller said. “But it’s been nice to see him play every day. The only thing he doesn’t do as well as anticipated is steal bases. I think in time speed will come. I don’t think there’s anyone in his class.”