Alex Ramirez Makes An Impression On Mets’ Big League Coaching Staff

Alex Ramirez’s name might be the least-mentioned among the Mets’ top-tier prospects, but the 20-year-old center fielder’s raw tools are hard to overlook.

Invited to his first big league spring training this year, Ramirez left an impression on Mets manager Buck Showalter and the coaching staff.

“It reminded me of (Ronny) Mauricio’s first spring with us,” Showalter said. “Ramirez is very talented, and people like him a lot. He is going to be a big man physically and he seems to have all the equipment.”

Ramirez was assigned to High-A Brooklyn to open the season. He reached the South Atlantic League last July after spending the first half with Low-A St. Lucie. He slashed .281/.346/.436 with 11 homers and 21 stolen bases in 121 games at the two levels.

The 6-foot-4 Ramirez has played primarily center field.

“He’s going to be able to stay in center field,” Showalter said. “He’s a guy that the ball is hit and you are wondering if he is going to get to it and he always catches it. And it seems he could have gone further, but he doesn’t have to dive after many balls.”

Ramirez, who signed for $2.05 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, is easily regarded as the best outfielder in the Mets’ farm system after deals in recent years that exported top prospects such as Jarred Kelenic and Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Mauricio remains a shortstop but could eventually be converted to an outfielder.

Ramirez, according to Showalter, is still growing into his body and will hit with more power once that occurs.

“There is a hit tool there, obviously,” Mets hitting coach Jeremy Barnes said. “What stood out to me was he came in and faced some bigger-name guys and early in camp he just was able to get barrel to it.

“That was the biggest thing to me, getting to watch him up close for the first time, was just how big of a hit tool really is there.”