Switch-hitter outfielder Henry Ramos (31), who was released from KT Wiz in the KBO League last year due to an injury, is looking at the opening roster in the major leagues. With a 50% hit in the demonstration game, he is poised to become a fielder for the Cincinnati Reds.
On the 25th (hereinafter Korean time), Ramos started as a left fielder with a 6th hitter in an exhibition game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and played an active role with 2 hits and 2 RBIs in 5 at-bats, including a solo home run in the 8th inning, leading Cincinnati to a 7-4 victory.
Ramos, who scored 1 RBI with a shortstop 메이저놀이터grounder in the 4th inning with 1 out and 3 base, hit a left-handed hit in the 6th inning and then hit a home run in the 8th inning. He hit right-hander Carlos Vargas’ 98.6 mile (158.7 km) sinker on the third pitch and decorated it with a superior solo shot.
Ramos, who signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati last January and joined spring training as an invited player, is exploding terribly in exhibition games. He is exploding with an OPS of 1.363 with 2 homers, 8 RBIs, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts in 12 games with 13 hits in 26 at-bats and a batting average of 50.
Cincinnati cleared veteran utility fielders Chad Pinder and Matt Reynolds on the 25th. Pinder has been released, and Reynolds has been sent down to the minor leagues and is working on the opening roster. The season opener is less than a week away, but Ramos has survived so far.
As he continues to play demonstration games, he is raising expectations for entering the opening 26-man roster. Cincinnati’s opening roster is projected to have 13 beasts, with 14 left. The final consideration is whether first baseman Joey Votto, who returned after undergoing rehabilitation after undergoing shoulder surgery last August, will join the opening roster. Votto failed to recover to normal condition with a batting average of 201.1 (4 hits in 19 bats) and 1 RBI in 7 games in the demonstration game.
According to the ‘Cincinnati Inquirer’, Cincinnati coach David Bell said, “I don’t know what Votto’s physical condition will be before the opening game. There are still players in our camp who can play multiple positions. Jason Vosler can play the corner outfield, and Ramos can play first base at any position in the outfield,” he mentioned as a candidate to replace Votto. Ramos, who can also defend first base, could be on the opening roster if Votto is given enough preparation time.
Puerto Rican outfielder Ramos experienced a short year in the major leagues in Arizona in 2021. 20% batting average (10 hits in 50 at-bats) in 18 games, 1 home run, 8 RBIs, OPS .555. Recognized for his rich minor league career, he signed with KT last year and played briefly in Korea. In 18 games he played 2.5 (18-for-72) with 3 home runs and 11 RBIs for a .721 OPS.
While he was slowly trying to adapt to the league, the injury ended in vain. On April 23 last year, against Suwon NC, his right little toe was hit and fractured by a ball from opponent starter Song Myeong-ki in the first inning. He was diagnosed with at least 4 to 6 weeks to recover, and was eventually released on May 26 and left Korea.