Former Marlins closer AJ Ramos hasn’t pitched since 2018 due to ongoing shoulder troubles, but the 2016 All-Star is eyeing a comeback bid in the 2020 season. Ramos recently tweeted a video of himself pitching in a game setting (with velocity and spin-rate data courtesy of Cressey Sports Performance in Florida) and included the hashtag “#Comebackszn”. The 33-year-old right-hander also detailed his comeback efforts in an interview with KAMC News in Lubbock, Tex. a couple weeks back (Twitter link, with video).
“I know that I have a lot left in me,” said Ramos. “This is what I love to do. It’s like I have a new motivation. Before, I was motivated to show everybody that I was good enough. Now, I’m motivated just to play — to have the max amount of fun doing it. If there’s a season [in 2020], I’ll be ready for it.”
Ramos was sidelined for the 2019 campaign after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum, per the KAMC segment. But radar gun readings in the video tweeted by Ramos register his fastball in the 93-95 mph range and feature him throwing all of his offspeed offering as well. On the surface, it appears as though the right-hander is at least close to full strength.
If that’s indeed the case, Ramos becomes an intriguing buy-low option for virtually any club in the league. While it’s obviously been quite some time since we’ve seen Ramos at one hundred percent, he was quietly one of the game’s more effective ninth-inning options for an extended period. In parts of six seasons with the Marlins from 2012-17, Ramos racked up 327 1/3 innings of 2.78 ERA ball with 92 saves, 10.4 K/9, 4.8 BB/9, 0.49 HR/9 and a 40 percent ground-ball rate.
There’s no telling whether Ramos can once again regain that All-Star form. However, given that he’d likely command on a non-guaranteed deal after more than two years away from a big league mound — his last pitch came on May 26, 2018 — there’s no real risk to rolling the dice and seeing if Ramos can revive his career now that his shoulder has healed up.
it surprised me he went unsigned last year. id like to see him back
I agree. Its a weird year to make a comeback but I think he can do it.
He seemed like the perfect Phillies minor league sign
would certainly have come in handy
Surprised he went unsigned? He was a 32 year old coming off a -0.5 WAR season with an ERA approaching 7.00
so? we’re going to write off all players after they had ome bad year? he was great prior to that.
All players were great prior to no longer being great. He’s older, declining, had a terrible year, that’s how it works.. does he need to suck for 5 years for us to finally admit he’s not gonna suddenly be something he hasn’t been in years? At this age? And his “prime” was only 2 good years. Recent performance is a better predictor of the future than is false hope.
So when are the Dodgers signing him??
nice prediction man how’d you know?
Are we forgetting Ramos also played for the Mets? Not just the Marlins?
Because he got injured while with the Mets and it was really depressing to watch.
I remember not seeing him sign, and just wondering… What happened? I hope he comes back.
Bad timin’,yo.
Cashman is on it.
Let’s see if there’s any more of Cashman’s 2019 pixie dust left in the wand. If so, Yanks will sign Ramos, and he’ll get the Rolaids.
Perfect guy to take a lowcost chance on
There’s no time like present
I’m sure he’s been at one percent for a while. Now 100 percent on the other hand…
THANK YOU for being the only one other than me to notice!
Maybe others noticed it and you two are the only ones annoying enough to point out a small error by a writer who provides free content.
Without pierogi races this year the pirates could use an extra body
COME ON,RAMOS!
Come back and have a long career!
Maybe the marlins?
Ramos always made the 9th inning interesting. He made sure the tying run was always up or on base
sounds like Jeanmar Gomez to me
I think you mean Brad Boxberger (Dbacks style)