Pirates A to Z: Yohan Ramirez was exciting addition to bullpen with sinker-slider combo

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Miguel Andujar to pitcher Bryse Wilson.

Player: Yohan Ramirez

Position: Pitcher

Throws: Right

Age: 27 (May 6)

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 212 pounds

2022 MLB statistics: Went 4-1 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.39 WHIP, one save, 32 strikeouts and 20 walks in 37 1/3 innings over 30 appearances for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Guardians and Pirates.

Contract: Not yet eligible for arbitration.

Acquired: From the Guardians in a trade for cash considerations on July 8.

This past season: Transactions were nothing new to Ramirez, who was traded twice for cash considerations last season, and his arrival to the Pirates was buried beneath a number of roster moves.

When the Pirates recalled Ramirez from Triple-A Indianapolis, along with infielder/outfielder Tucupita Marcano on Aug. 3, it came on the same day that All-Star closer David Bednar was placed on the injured list with low back inflammation and first baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo was designated for assignment.

“It most definitely caught me surprise,” Ramirez said. “I had just come off the field from practicing and getting ready for the game and that’s when they approached me and gave me the news.”

Yohan Ramirez tears apart Altuve with three straight sliders. pic.twitter.com/qDrHHrRvYK

— Gravel (@Gravel_sense) April 16, 2022

Ramirez spent nearly a month at Indianapolis, and credited the Pirates for doing “a lot of homework” on him and suggesting mechanical adjustments to maximize his potential.

“Mostly becoming more comfortable with my load and shortening my arm a little bit because I was getting a little too big with it,” Ramirez said. “So, getting a little shorter and making little adjustments with all my pitches have been able to help me.”

Ramirez had his share of bad luck, including giving up a two-run home run to Bo Bichette in a 4-0 loss to Toronto that clinched another losing season and allowing the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of a 6-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 2 that marked the Pirates’ eighth consecutive defeat.

After compiling a 4.91 ERA in August, when opponents batted .250 and he had as many walks (seven) as strikeouts in nine appearances, Ramirez found a groove in the final month.

The adjustments started to show in September and early October, when Ramirez had a 2.81 ERA with a .207 batting average against, 14 strikeouts and six walks in 13 appearances. He finished eight games, getting Lars Nootbaar looking at a called third strike on the way to a 3-2 walk-off win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Oct. 3 and and earning his first save with the Pirates after recording five with Seattle.

Yohan Ramirez @piratasbeisbol lanzó 1 entrada, permitió 1 hit. Obtuvo su primer juego salvado de la temporada. 4.58 EFE. #AguiluchosMLB pic.twitter.com/UVqIWh0omy

— Águilas Cibaeñas (@aguilascibaenas) October 6, 2022

That came in the season finale against the Cardinals, after Ramirez got Paul DeJong to line out to first for a double play to clinch a 5-3 win over the NL Central champions. Ramirez punctuated the play with a celebration, showing off his fiery personality.

“I think he might have improved the most over this last month,” Pirates bullpen coach Justin Meccage said.

The future: Ramirez spent the majority of the season with a pair of playoff teams, yet was appreciative of both for what he learned along the way.

And he is just as excited about his opportunity with the Pirates, who liked the value his sinker-slider combination adds to the bullpen. General manager Ben Cherington praised Ramirez as one of the bright spots in the final month.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton showed his trust of Ramirez by using him in a high-leverage role. Ramirez entered in the seventh inning of a game eight times, the eighth inning seven times, the ninth inning five times and pitched the 10th inning once. Ramirez held right-handed hitters to a .195 batting average while lefties slashed .289/.422/.462.

“He’s got an elite sinker with extension that has been in the zone the last month,” Meccage said. “Then he mixes in the slider, dominates right-handed hitters and (with) lefties, kind of navigates that. He brings tons of energy and positivity. He’s great, another guy that’s really exciting.”