Ramos Struggles After Yankees Trade
TORONTO — Heriot Ramos understands the Yankees brought him in during the trade deadline to enhance their faltering offense.
He was eager to contribute, but aside from a few early games, success has been elusive—despite some solid contact. This is where his more human side shows, perhaps complicating his performance a little.
“I think I’m just trying too hard,” Ramos mentioned on Friday at the Rogers Centre. “I keep noticing the balls I hit that don’t land. I often feel like, oh, it’s going to be another out—it happens. Every time that occurs, I push harder, and that’s when I end up striking out.”
Heading into the game against the Blue Jays, Ramos had a disappointing record of 2-for-25, with those two hits being doubles, alongside 10 strikeouts and three walks over his initial eight games with the Yankees. Notably, he went 0-for-6 with two walks against left-handed pitchers, who generally present a challenge for right-handed hitters.
While he acknowledged his struggles, he pointed out that during this brief stint, his strikeout rate (33.3 percent) is even higher than what he recorded with the Giants (26.8 percent).
“That’s frustrating for me,” he remarked. “But when I connect, I really connect. I feel good about that part. I just need to remember to stay in my zone. I’m not chasing too much, which is something I want to keep doing. Staying positive and consistent is key.”
The stats tell a somewhat brighter story. Since joining the Yankees, in terms of pitch velocity, Ramos averaged 93.8 mph, which is notably higher than his season average of 92 mph—placing him in the 88th percentile. Of the seven balls he hit over 95 mph, six resulted in outs.
Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged Ramos’ situation, saying, “It’s true we didn’t see the results we wanted. He’s hitting the ball well but needs to refine his approach and relax a bit. Even without the desired outcomes, I didn’t feel like he was struggling, given that he was hitting some solid line drives.”
Boone added, “He has a competitive approach at the plate. He’s faced some tough matchups, and I don’t view him as someone who’s particularly struggling.”
Interestingly, the day of his acquisition, Yankees manager Brian Cashman mentioned that Ramos would likely be in the lineup each day in August while the team worked on regaining health. Cody Bellinger seems to be the first player nearing a return (of the trio that includes Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge) and could begin a rehab assignment soon, allowing Ramos to shift into a platoon role in right field.
So far, the Yankees have been utilizing Ramos in left field to help him adjust, as that aligns with his primary position from his time with the Giants. He’s expected to transition to right field when Bellinger comes back.
Meanwhile, 26-year-old Ramos is working hard to find his footing, just 11 days after a trade that dramatically altered his baseball journey and put him in playoff contention.
“It’s definitely strange,” he said. “There’s a whole lot happening. I feel like I haven’t had a chance to stop and appreciate where I am. I’m just trying to work and produce. I really want to contribute. Everything feels fast-paced, but I’m getting there.”
