SF Giants prospects rundown 5/21: Heliot Ramos busts out of slump

SF Giants Prospects Rundown 5/21: Double-A

Bowie Baysox 4 at Richmond Flying Squirrels 9
Performance of the Game: Heliot Ramos (3-4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI)

Heading into last night’s game, Heliot Ramos (fourth-ranked prospect) was in a bit of a slump. In his previous 7 games, Ramos racked up only 4 hits in 27 at-bats with no home runs and 11 strikeouts. The young Puerto Rican finally busted out of his slump in a big way, where he finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. He hit the go-ahead three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. In the bottom of the seventh, Ramos padded the lead with his third hit of the night, a two-out double that scored Bryan Torres. After the game, Ramos’ batting average is now back above .300.

Speaking of the seventh inning, third baseman David Villar put the game effectively out of reach with his team-leading fourth home run of the season. Even though Villar has big flaws in his strikeout rates (3 more strikeouts today) and contact issues, but his defense at third base is Major League-quality and he can put balls into the bleachers when he makes good contact.

On the other side, it was an adventurous outing once again for Tristan Beck (16th-ranked prospect), as he pitched five innings of four-run ball, allowing three of those via the long ball, with three walks and a season-high seven strikeouts. Beck has been very hittable this year, where opposing teams hit .274 against him in his four starts.

After Ramos put the team ahead, it was a lights out for the Baysox hitters, as the duo of Joey Marciano and Norwith Gudino only allowed one baserunner in the final four innings (a harmless ninth-inning walk) with Gudino racking up four strikeouts to earn his third save of the season. Gudino has impressed me greatly so far this season, with a near 40% strikeout rate and a FIP of just 2.09. The secondaries looked really good when I watched him and if he keeps this up, there’s a big chance for a AAA promotion in the coming month.

Andy Sugilio is a pretty fun player to watch, as he punched in the first two runs for the Flying Squirrels today. The 2020 minor league free agent signee has the look of a fourth outfielder with a good knack for putting the ball in play.

One final note in today’s game, I absolutely love the lime and blue uniforms.