SF Giants: Top Outfield Prospect Receives ST Invite

The SF Giants are still working to finalize the list of Spring Training invitees, but so far they have extended an invite to one of their top outfield prospects.

As Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group notes, SF Giants outfield prospect Heliot Ramos has received an invite to play with the big club during Spring Training.

Giants fans who consume the minor league box scores are well aware of the promise that Ramos brings to the table. After all, the Giants selected him in the first round of the 2017 draft out of the Leadership Christian Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

SF Giants Prospect Receives Spring Training Invite

In his brief professional career, the right-handed bat has really opened some eyes. In three seasons, he has slashed .277/.347/.462 with 33 home runs and 134 RBI while playing well above his age. This comes with a 7.7 percent walk rate against a 26.7 percent strikeout rate, but plate discipline and patience are qualities he has improved upon over the years.

The 2019 campaign was a huge leap forward for the former first-round pick. He began the year in Single-A in his age-19 season while posting an. 885 OPS with 13 home runs and 40 RBI in 338 plate appearances. He saw his walk rate rise to 9.5 percent, so the outfield prospect showed impressive selectivity for his age.

This was enough to earn a promotion to Double-A along with catching prospect Joey Bart near the end of 2019. Despite the advanced competition, Ramos adjusted well. He registered a .742 OPS with three home runs and 15 RBI across 106 plate appearances. These numbers are impressive by themselves, but when you factor in his age (19) along with the tough offensive environment that Double-A can be, it really puts Ramos’ season into perspective.

If there was a minor league season in 2020, the right-handed bat could have possibly been knocking on the door to the Giants roster. That said, we did get a brief look at him in 2020:

Now, Ramos will get an extended look this spring. The chances of him making the roster are slim given that San Francisco seems content with its current outfield mix of Mike Yastrzemski, Alex Dickerson, Darin Ruf, Austin Slater, and Mauricio Dubon. However, the eyes will be on the 21-year-old prospect as he looks to make a good first impression.