Washington Nationals: Wilson Ramos Breakout Year
Catcher Wilson Ramos of the Washington Nationals has bounced back from a horrible 2015 into a budding star.
Wilson Ramos is turning into one of the most important pieces in the Washington Nationals playoff puzzle.
With a batting average of .335, second in the National League, and an OPS of .936 (4th in the NL) the catcher is quietly putting together an MVP season for the first-place Nats.
If his Adjusted OPS+ of 146 does not impress you, how about throwing out 38.9 percent of would be base stealers, good enough for fourth in the league. In his sixth season with Washington Ramos is finally coming on to his own.
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The talent has been there from the start. In 2011, he finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after hitting .267 and slugging 15 home runs in 113 games. It would be 2015, however, until he caught more than 100 games in a year again. Splitting time Kurt Suzuki in 2013 and current teammate Jose Lobaton in 14, Ramos showed his power. In 2013, he slugged 16 homers in 78 games. Next year, 11 homers in 88 games while hitting around .270. The pop, arm and bat were there, but injuries early in both seasons cut his playing time.
Healthy to start 2015, he struggled. Never a player who easily draws walks, Ramos lost his plate discipline and walked 21 times while whiffing 101. The batting average plummeted to .229 and his power evaporated. With an OPS+ of 65, the future was not so bright.
The biggest change Ramos made this season was cutting down on the strikeouts while taking more pitches. His walks total of 14 and strikeout tally of 25 project to career-best at year’s end. On pace for over 20 homers and 80 RBI, both would be career highs, he has made himself a valuable part of the offense and drawing praise from broadcasters and writers.
Along with a resurgent Jayson Werth, newcomer Daniel Murphy, and last year’s MVP Bryce Harper, Ramos packs a solid punch in the middle of the lineup. As a team, the offense is solid. They string together hits and score runs. With Ramos’ 10 homers, the Nats lead the NL in dingers with 88. Right now, they are a hard team to pitch around.
As they hold a healthy lead over the second-place New York Mets in the NL East, Ramos continuing to slap singles and doubles, drive in runs and slam homers will ease them into the playoffs. Washington’s goals are not only making the playoffs, but reaching the World Series. Since moving from Montreal before the 2005 season, the Nats have yet to advance in the postseason. This team is capable of not only reaching their first NLCS since 1981, but winning their first pennant. Ramos, with his bat, ability to handle pitchers and his arm is a big reason why.
Next: Nationals Trade Deadline Preview
A free agent when the season finishes, he will make more than the $5.3 million on the books this year. You would think after a season like this, the Nationals will do what they can to keep him.