Elvin Ramirez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Washington Nationals #20 prospect in 2011
  Ramirez signed with the Mets as a 16-year-old and spent three seasons in Rookie ball, followed by two more in low Class A. New York converted him from starter to reliever in 2010, and he pitched well enough to earn a late-season promotion to Double-A. After he Mets declined to protect him on their 40-man roster, his stock climbed after he ran his fastball up to 99 mph in the Dominican Winter League. The Nationals selected him with the fifth pick in the major league Rule 5 draft. In the past, Ramirez worked at 89-94 mph with his fastball, with some scouts speculating his velocity would increase if he could lengthen his short stride in the front. He showed improved control in winter ball after averaging 4.8 walks per nine innings in six minor league seasons. Ramriez throws a changeup, curveball and slider, though none stands out as more than serviceable. He'll have to prove his progress this winter is for real, but Ramirez was worth a flier for an organization lacking in live arms. Though he has made just three appearances above Class A, he'll have to make the jump to the big leagues to remain Washington property. He can't be sent to the minors unless he clears waivers and New York declines to take him back for half his $50,000 draft price.
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  Ranked New York Mets #26 prospect in 2009
  Ramirez was nearly 18 when he signed out of the Dominican Republic and remains fairly raw, but after three years in Rookie ball, the Mets challenged him with a full-season assignment at Savannah. Results were mixed. Ramirez used his plus fastball--which has registered as high as 96-97 mph and sits at 89-94--to pitch well through the first half of the season. His fastball is notable for sink as well as velocity and he got plenty of groundouts (1.77 for every airout) while allowing only one home run. He also showed a hard curveball that has promise and a decent changeup. A muscle strain in his back, injured while exercising, sidelined him, and Ramirez didn't pitch again after July 9. Ramirez returned for instructional league at full strength. Ramirez's rough delivery is hard to repeat, and scouts outside the organization consider Ramirez strictly a reliever in the future. He's inconsistent with getting extension out front in his delivery, and the Mets have worked to lengthen his stride to help him finish off his pitches and gain more velocity. Lean and wiry, he has arm speed and power for a bullpen role. He lacks the command to start anyway. A move to the bullpen could be in the offing as soon as 2009, when Ramirez will head to high Class A.
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  Ranked New York Mets #30 prospect in 2008
  The Mets have signed several promising position players from Latin America since Omar Minaya became general manager, but Deolis Guerra stands out as by far the best of the international pitching signees. New York hopes that more depth is on the way, with Ramirez leading a group of young Latin arms that also includes lefthander Angel Calero, who has projectable arm strength, and righthander Pedro P. Martinez, no relation to the big leaguer and one of the organization's most improved pitchers in instructional league. Ramirez has a big arm, having hit 96 mph regularly and sitting anywhere from 87-94 with a short, deceptive arm action. One scout who saw Ramirez at Kingsport said he'd have more velocity if the Mets could lengthen his delivery out front, and club officials say they had success doing that in instructional league. Ramirez has a wiry-strong body that allows him to generate a quick arm that helps produce a hard breaking ball that's closer to a curveball than a slider. He has a chance to have decent control but too much effort in his delivery to have much command, making him profile as a reliever. New York likely will keep him in the rotation to get more innings in 2008, at either Brooklyn or Savannah.