The Los Angeles Dodgers began their road trip on a rough note as they were swept by the Cincinnati Reds last weekend, which extended their losing streak to a season-worst five games.
In the series opener, Yohan Ramírez made just his second appearance with the Dodgers since joining the team on May 20. Entering the game for James Paxton, the right-hander proceeded to hit two batters and also walked another on four pitches.
Ramírez was visibly upset with his performance and came out after facing the minimum three batters. Ramírez was then called on to pitch in the finale at Great American Ball Park and put himself into a bases-loaded jam with two outs.
After getting two quick outs, Ramírez allowed a single and hit two batters in a row. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts emerged from the dugout, but rather than taking Ramírez out of the game, put his arms around him to share words of encouragement.
The 29-year-old has pitched in parts of five seasons at the Major League level, but noted that was a unique experience, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“No, that’s never happened to me,” Ramirez said through an interpreter Tuesday. “Honestly, my whole time that I’ve been in baseball, that was one of the best moments, best managers that I’ve ever had. For him to do something like that, it made me feel like he’s more of a mother or father figure.”
Playing for his third team this year, Ramírez is no stranger to trying to get his feet under him while in a brand new environment:
“I come with a lot of baggage – getting DFA’d, I’ve been with a lot of different teams,” Ramirez said. “I came here to the Dodger organization trying to prove myself, trying to do a little too much. For him to take that load off of me and give me that peace was very relaxing and gave me a lot of confidence.”
Ramírez responded well to Roberts’ words of encouragement as he collected the third out and pitched a scoreless inning against the New York Mets on Wednesday. He discussed what might have gone wrong, leading to a subpar stretch with the Dodgers:
“It was more mental, trying to prove myself, trying to do too much to show the organization,” he said of the difficulties in his first two outings with the Dodgers. “It was a little out of character. I was just trying to be too fine, trying to show the organization I could do the job. Now, going forward, I’ll put less stress on that and just focus on doing my job.”
The on-field moment with Roberts is a touch of what makes him universally appreciated by players he’s had a chance to manage, and why the Dodgers front office covets his skillset.
In four appearances with the team, Ramírez has allowed three runs on four hits. Overall, he’s pitched to a 6.87 ERA with a .254 batting average allowed in 18.1 innings.
Will Yohan Ramírez remain on Dodgers roster?
Ramírez’s spot on the Dodgers roster has much to do with their thin bullpen amidst a rash of injuries.
But Ramírez hasn’t held a consistent run of success in a few seasons. Prior to the Dodgers, he opened the year with the Baltimore Orioles and Mets.
It’s a second time in three years that he’s played for three teams, and once relievers return from the injured list, Ramírez is likely to be searching for his fourth.
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