Aramis Ramírez
| Aramis Ramírez | |
|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs – No. 16 | |
| Third base | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| debut | |
| May 26, 1998, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Career statistics (through 2007) | |
| Batting Average | .280 |
| Home Runs | 209 |
| Runs Batted In | 705 |
| Teams | |
| |
Aramis Nin Ramírez (born June 25, 1978 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a third baseman in Major League Baseball who has played for the Chicago Cubs since 2003 and on November 12, 2006 signed a five year deal with the Cubs with an option for 2011. Previously, Ramírez played with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1998-2003)[1].
MLB Career
Early Years with Pirates
Ramírez was signed as a 16 year old free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates on November 7, 1994[1]. On May 26, he made his major league debut with the Pirates in 1998 at the age of 19, and was the youngest player in baseball at the time[2].
Ramírez struggled in his first three seasons while showing great potential, and split his time between the Pirates and AAA Nashville Sounds[3]. In 2001, Ramírez hit 34 home runs and had 112 RBI to go along with a .300 average and stayed with the major-league team the entire season[3]. In the field, he had the second most errors in the majors among third basemen -- 25. He had a major-league-low .929 fielding percentage at third[4]. His performance dipped in 2002, as he batted .234 with just 18 home runs. On April 17 of that season, he was ejected from a game in Milwaukee after charging the mound and throwing his batting helmet at Ben Sheets[3]. This earned him a suspension from April 23-30[3].
2003 - Trade to Cubs
Ramírez was traded during the 2003 along with outfielder Kenny Lofton to the Chicago Cubs[1]. Ramírez finished the 2003 season strong in Chicago, though he led the majors with 33 errors at third base -- 50% more than the next most error-prone third baseman. The Cubs made the playoffs and defeated the favored Atlanta Braves, before being beaten by the eventual World Series champion Florida Marlins in a seven-game NLCS. In the series against the Marlins, Ramírez hit three home runs and had seven RBI's in 26 at-bats[3].
2004 Season
Ramírez played extremely well during the 2004 season, and despite nursing a sore hamstring, led the Cubs in hitting and RBI for most of the season. Cubs former manager Dusty Baker considered Ramírez one of the key ingredients in the Cubs' failed drive for the playoffs. That was strong praise on a team that includes stars the likes of Derrek Lee, Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Greg Maddux, and Carlos Zambrano.
On September 16, 2004, Ramirez became the 14th player in Major League history to have two games with three home runs in a season when he hit three homers against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. His other three-home run game came against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 30 at Wrigley Field. On defense, however, his range factor of 2.26 was the lowest among major league third basemen[4].
2005 Season
In 2005, he was named to his first all-star game, where he started after National League 3rd basemen vote winner Scott Rolen pulled out of the game due to injury concerns[5]. Ramirez finished the 2005 season on the disabled list after straining his quadriceps on August 24, yet, still completed the season with 31 home runs and 92 RBIs. On defense his range factor of 2.54 was the lowest among major league third basemen for the second straight year[4].
2006 Season
In 2006, he hit 38 home runs while driving in 119 runs. He collected his 1000th hit on July 15 versus the New York Mets[6]. On defense, however, his range factor of 2.41 was the lowest among major league third basemen for the third straight year[4]. After the season, he was listed as being potentially the biggest free agent in the market with the obvious exception of Alfonso Soriano. In addition to the Cubs, the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Los Angeles Dodgers appeared most interested in his services. However, Ramirez elected to stay with the Cubs, agreeing to a reported 5 year, $73,000,000 contract on November 12, 2006.
Some Cubs fans refer to Ramirez as "A-Ram."
3rd Base Legacy with Cubs
Between 1960 and 1973, the Cubs relied on All-Star Ron Santo as the everyday third baseman[2]. In the following thirty years, 97 different players started at third for the Cubs, including 18 different starters on opening day[2]. Ramírez has started the last four seasons at third, and with the long-term contract appears to have ended the stretch of ambiguity at the position[2]
See also
- List of top 500 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of players from Dominican Republic in MLB
- Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game
References
- ^ a b c Aramis Bio Page, Baseball-Reference.com, Retrieved on August 17, 2007
- ^ a b c d Mayer, Larry, A case for the defense, Chicago Vineline, Vol. 22, No. 8
- ^ a b c d e Aramis Ramírez Bio, 2005 Chicago Cubs Information Guide, page 137.
- ^ a b c d Aramis Bio on BB Cube, BaseballCube.com, Retrieved on August 17, 2007
- ^ MLB.com Bio, MLB.com, Retrieved on August 17, 2007
- ^ Aramis Ramirez Bio, Chicago Cubs 2007 Information Guide, page 141.
- Aramis Ramírez' career statistics at ESPN.com