Yankees Refuse to Panic, Double Down on Heliot Ramos After Rough Start
Yankees’ New Guy Heliot Ramos Is Struggling, But the Manager Keeps Putting Him in the Spotlight
The Big Picture
Imagine you just joined a new baseball team. You’re not hitting the ball well at all — like, really not well. But your manager keeps writing your name in the most important spots in the batting order (3rd or 4th). That’s exactly what’s happening with Heliot Ramos and the New York Yankees.
Who Is Heliot Ramos?
- Right-handed hitter (bats from the right side)
- Corner outfielder (plays left or right field)
- Acquired from the San Francisco Giants right before the trade deadline
- Trade cost: Two young prospects — Henry Lalane and Kaeden Kent
- Current role: Batting 3rd or 4th (the "heart of the order" — where your best hitters usually go)
Important Point: The "heart of the order" (spots 3–4) is where teams put hitters they trust to drive in runs. Putting a struggling new guy there is a big vote of confidence — or a sign of desperation.
The Numbers Look Ugly (But Wait…)
Since joining the Yankees on August 4, Ramos has played 12 games. Here’s his stat line:
| Stat | Value | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Average | .077 (3-for-39) | Gets a hit less than 1 time in 10 at-bats |
| OPS | .371 | On-base + Slugging — very low (league average ~.700) |
| Recent Game (Tuesday) | 0-for-3, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk | Didn’t get a hit, but showed patience |
ELI5 Translation: If you went to the plate 39 times and only got 3 hits, you’d be frustrated. That’s where Ramos is.
Why Is Manager Aaron Boone Sticking With Him?
Boone (the Yankees’ manager) gave three main reasons after Wednesday’s game:
1. He’s "Pressing" — But Not Chasing Bad Pitches
Pressing = trying too hard to prove yourself, like a kid swinging for the fences every time because they want to impress the new team.
Good news: Boone says Ramos isn’t swinging at balls out of the strike zone. He’s being selective — just not getting results.
2. He’s Hit Into Terrible Luck (The Stats Back This Up)
Here’s where it gets interesting. Baseball nerds use two fancy stats:
| Stat | Full Name | What It Measures | Ramos’ Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| wOBA | Weighted On-Base Average | Actual results — what really happened | .178 (awful) |
| xwOBA | Expected wOBA | Quality of contact — what should have happened based on how hard/well he hit the ball | .299 (below average, but not terrible) |
The Gap: .121 points — the 2nd biggest in the majors (minimum 40 plate appearances). Only one player (Moisés Ballesteros, .125) had a bigger gap.
Translation: Ramos is hitting the ball hard and well — but the ball keeps finding gloves. Line drives caught. Grounders right at fielders. That’s bad luck, not bad skill.
3. He’s Facing Too Many Right-Handed Pitchers
- Ramos is a platoon player = he’s much better vs. left-handed pitchers
- Since joining the Yankees: "We’ve faced 1,000 right-handers in a row" (Boone’s words — exaggeration, but you get the point)
- Help is coming: Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Judge are all expected back from injury before season’s end. That means:
- More lefty bats in the lineup
- Ramos can slide into a platoon role (play mostly vs. lefties)
Side Note: A Minor Trade Happened Too
While the main trade deadline passed, teams can still trade minor leaguers not on the 40-man roster.
The Deal:
- Yankees sent catcher Christian Bethancourt → Pittsburgh Pirates
- Return: Cash considerations (money)
Why?
- Yankees signed Bethancourt (July 28) as depth in case they traded for a big-league catcher
- They’d have had to remove backup Ali Sánchez (no minor league options left)
- No catcher trade happened at the deadline
- Yankees then signed Mitch Garver (veteran catcher) to a minor league deal
- Now they have Garver + J.C. Escarra at Triple-A — enough depth, so Bethancourt was expendable
Summary
- Heliot Ramos is a new Yankee acquired at the deadline
- He’s struggling badly at the plate (.077 avg, .371 OPS)
- But Manager Aaron Boone keeps batting him 3rd/4th because:
- He’s pressing but not chasing bad pitches
- Advanced stats show bad luck — he’s hitting the ball well (xwOBA .299 vs actual wOBA .178)
- He’s facing too many righties — he crushes lefties
- Reinforcements coming (Judge, Stanton, Bellinger) will let him platoon properly
- Separately: Yankees traded minor league catcher Christian Bethancourt to Pirates for cash after signing Mitch Garver
Bottom line: The Yankees believe Ramos is a good hitter having a unlucky, tough stretch in a role that doesn’t fit him yet. They’re betting on the track record, not the last 12 games.
FAQ
What does "platoon player" mean?
A platoon player is someone who plays mostly against one type of pitcher — usually a lefty hitter vs. right-handed pitchers, or vice versa. Ramos hits lefties really well, so ideally he’d sit against righties and start against lefties.
What’s the difference between wOBA and xwOBA?
- wOBA = what actually happened (hits, walks, outs)
- xwOBA = what should have happened based on exit velocity, launch angle, etc.
- Big gap = you’re hitting the ball well but getting unlucky (or vice versa)
Why bat a struggling hitter 3rd or 4th?
Those spots get the most at-bats and most RBI chances. Boone wants Ramos to feel trusted and get comfortable. Also, the Yankees are injury-depleted — options are limited right now.
When will Judge/Stanton/Bellinger be back?
The article says "before season’s end" — no exact dates given. All three are on the injured list (ribs, calf, etc.).
Was the Ramos trade a mistake?
Too early to say. He cost two prospects (Lalane, Kent), but those were not top-tier guys. If Ramos returns to form (he hit 22 HRs in 2023), it’s a steal. If not, it’s a low-risk gamble that didn’t pay off.