Meet A Prospect : Jose A. Ramirez

Jose Altagracia Ramirez was born on January 21st, 1990 in Yaguate, San Cristobal, Dominican Republic. The Yankees must have loved his 6'1" 155 lb frame pitching from the right side because they signed Jose as an International Free Agent in June of 2007. The Yankees added him to the 40 man roster this year to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft so time is almost up for Jose and it seems like it is 2012 or never for this guy. Personally after winning the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week twice in 2011 for the Tampa Yankees I think it may be a bit premature to write this guy off.

Jose Ramirez started his professional baseball career in 2008 in the Dominican Summer League with the Yankees 2nd DSL team. He would get 39 IP under his belt with an unimpressive 0-3 record and a 4.15 ERA with 39 strikes outs. The Yankees moved him up to the Gulf Coast League for 2009 where he spent 61 IP and compiled a 6-0 record with a 1.48 ERA earning him a late season promotion to the Tampa Yankees, skipping Low A Charleston. While only pitching 3 IP with the Tampa Yankees the Yankees started him out with the Low A Charleston Riverdogs for the 2012 season where he went 6-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 2010 in 115 IP and 105 strike outs. Jose would start the 2011 season back in Charleston where he went 79 IP and had a 5-7 record with a 4.90 ERA before being promoted back to the Tampa Yankees where he went 0-5 with an 8.14 ERA in 24.1 IP. Jose had a bounce back season in 2012 with the Tampa Yankees after going 7-6 with a 3.19 ERA in 98.2 IP and striking out 94 batters. Jose started his 2013 season in Trenton but ended up with the AAA RailRiders. Although injuries shortened his season he still finished with a 2-6 record combined with a 3.67 ERA and 78 K's in 73.2 IP. 

It is speculated that Jose A. Ramirez was the reason the Yankees seemed so willing to let go of Arodys Vizcaino in the Javier Vazquez trade with the Atlanta Braves. It is looking better for us all the time as Jose Ramirez is hitting 100 mph in instructs and Arodys missing the 2013 season with Tommy John surgery after the Braves put him in the bullpen and he blew out his elbow. Ramirez comes in with three plus pitches including hist traditional four seam fastball that touches 98-100 mph but sits consistently at 93-96 mph. He also junked a slurve for a traditional curve ball that he also struggled with so he decided to throw a true slider that he has made major strides with at instructs before the 2012 season. His third pitch has always been considered to be his best pitch which is a power change up that he throws from the same arm slot as his fastball that sits in the 80-84 mph range. His change up as even been compared to Manny Banuelos's change up and has rivaled his as the best change up in the Yankees farm system.

ETA : Late 2014 - Early 2015