Carlos Ramirez: Toronto Blue Jays
An outfielder whose career stalled out in A ball, Carlos Ramirez took his strong arm to the mound. The Toronto Blue Jays are certainly glad he did.
Almost immediately, Ramirez got results. He struggled with his command as he learned how to pitch, but there was no questioning the potential of that right arm. The only question was whether or not he could ever harness his stuff.
Ramirez answered that question with an emphatic yes this season. Starting off the year with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, a level he never reached as an outfielder. He allowed two unearned runs in New Hampshire, the only runs he has allowed this year. Overall, Ramirez did not allow an earned run in his 37.2 minor league innings, allowing 16 hits and 10 walks while striking out 45 batters. That success has carried over to the majors, where he has allowed two baserunners while striking out seven in seven innings.
At this point, Ramirez is a two pitch pitcher, but that is really all he needs. With a sinking fastball that sits in the mid 90s, and a slider with solid movement, he could become a weapon in the back of the Blue Jays bullpen. Given the issues that Toronto has had in finding relievers, Ramirez could well be auditioning for a high leverage role in 2018.
Sometimes, all a player needs is a change. For Carlos Ramirez, that conversion to the mound led to his MLB debut just three years later.