Ramirez grew up as an outfielder in Venezuela, but the Royals signed him as a catcher in 2023 for just $57,500. He popped onto the radar almost immediately, slashing .344/.440/.615 with eight homers and more walks (21) than strikeouts (18) in 41 games in the Dominican Summer League. The Royals brought him to the States when the DSL ended, and Ramirez once again impressed in the instructional league.
Ramirez is advanced in just about everything he does. His swing is powerful with a natural feel for the barrel with batted-ball data that excites evaluators the most, as he consistently hits the ball hard. Ramirez has a traditional setup and a smooth swing that can handle velocity instead of matching effort-for-effort like so many young hitters do. There’s a chance he grows into a player who hits for average and power. Ramirez needs more development with catching, but he has a plus arm and is athletic behind the plate -- that’s a good foundation to stick at catcher. Ramirez has a physical and mature frame and is a tick-below-average runner.
With Ramirez’s emergence, the Royals’ catching core is as deep as it’s been in a long time. Playing behind the plate can tax young players over time, and it’s yet to be seen how Ramirez adjusts to non-Complex-level pitching over a larger sample. Those concerns aside, the power potential at a premium position is exciting.
