Right-handed pitcher Yuri Ramos, 26, has joined the Yomiuri Giants of the prestigious Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) organization.
Ramos said at a press conference at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on April 18, “I am grateful to the Yomiuri organization for giving me the opportunity to play in Japan. The level of Japanese pitchers is high, so I hope to study a lot and contribute to winning the championship next season.” His back number is 057.
Ramos, who stands at 6-foot-1, has a fastball in the 150 mph range with a splitter as his main weapon. His fastball has been clocked at up to 99.9 mph (160.8 km/h) this season, so Yomiuri has high hopes for him. Christopher Mercedes (now with the Chiba Lotte Marines) is a good example of a player who was brought in as a developmental player and developed into a mainstay.
“He was approached by the (Major League Baseball) New York Yankees, but they chose him because of Japan’s ability to develop players and his desire to succeed in Japan,” said club vice president Otsuka Yomiuri, who attended the signing ceremony. “With experience, I think he will become a representative closer for Japan.”토토사이트
Ramos, who signed a developmental contract with Yomiuri, has no Major League Baseball (MLB) experience. In his minor league career (7 years), Ramos has appeared in 107 games (27 starts) with a 7-16 record, 7 saves, and a 5.21 ERA. As a specialized bullpen arm, he had a relatively smooth season in the Mexican League this year, going 6-1 with a 2.71 ERA in 41 games with two saves. He will be sent to the Japanese Education League (Phoenix League), which begins on Oct. 9, to get his feet wet for next season.