SF Giants promote right-handed-hitting outfielder ahead of week full of lefties

The SF Giants recalled 23-year-old outfielder Heliot Ramos ahead of Sunday's game according to the team's transaction log. Matt Beaty was optioned in a corresponding roster move. With the Giants slated to face a handful of left-handed pitchers over the next week, Ramos should see his name in the lineup quite a bit.

SF Giants promote right-handed-hitting outfielder ahead of week full of lefties

The Giants are beginning a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. A pair of lefties in Julio Urías and Clayton Kershaw are slated to pitch in that series. Of course, it would not be a series against the Dodgers if Kershaw did not pitch in it.

He has made 400 starts in his 16-year career and about 750 of those starts have been against the Giants. I think that math checks out.

In the second half of the week, the Giants will travel to Detroit to face off against a Tigers rotation that features three southpaws in Eduardo Rodriguez, Joey Wentz, and Matthew Boyd. So, if you want to see Ramos play, this would be the week to do it.

Ramos debuted with the Giants last year, collecting just two hits in 20 at-bats while shuttling to and from the minors a handful of times. It has been a tough couple of seasons for the former top outfield prospect as he has struggled to the tune of a .246/.313/.366 line in three seasons with the Sacramento River Cats.

Though, he is off to a nice start so far in 2023 as he has tallied nine hits, six RBI, and three runs in 27 at-bats. He has only taken one walk and has not recorded an extra-base hit. Ramos makes plenty of solid contact, but he has struggled to consistently lift the ball in the air. Ramos recorded one hit in three at-bats in Sunday's 3-1 win against the Kansas City Royals.

He will take the spot of Matt Beaty. Beaty, who was acquired right before Opening Day, tallied just one hit in two at-bats in the first week of the season. However, he did close out the game in the Giants' 16-6 win against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, which counts as a save in my book.

Despite the fact that the Giants faced a lot of right-handed pitchers, manager Gabe Kapler was only able to find two at-bats for the left-hitting Beaty. Being optioned to Triple-A should offer him much more playing time.

It is hard to say what Beaty's role might be, but he has had some history of success against righties (.737 career OPS) so he could be a serviceable option in the lower part of the lineup in those matchups. For now, he will get some reps with the River Cats.