by Marc Hefferan
*MLBDepthCharts.com considers any player not on a team's 40-man roster, in AAA, or ranked as a top 10 prospect by Baseball America or top 11 prospect by Baseball Prospectus before the 2010 season as an 'under the radar' player.
Under the Radar Minor League NL Hitting Performance of the Week
1B Nick Ramirez, Rookie Level Helena (MIL)
season stats: .391 BA, 7 HR, 26 RBI, 7 2B, 2 BB, 17 K in 19 games
July 13-July 19: 18-for-36, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 5 2B
After a two-week hiatus from our feature, I have to say that I’m very happy to be back. Our time off is greatly appreciated, but Jim and I don’t step away from the UTR completely. We still track progress and it’s difficult to overcome the itch we get when it’s usually time to work. During the break, we backpedal a little and reflect on the season that’s been. I gladly watched 1st half UTR picks Adam Eaton and Ryan Flaherty, along with a few others, receive much-deserved promotions. Now it's on to the second half. In my last UTR installment before the break, I anticipated that the "have's" could slowly start to step up and separate themselves from the "have not's" in the Short Season and Rookie Leagues. It looks as if this has happened in seemingly abrupt fashion. With an overflow of hitters to choose from, Ramirez easily broke away from the pack.
The 6'3" Ramirez had made it known to scouts that he wanted to be drafted as a hitter. Why wouldn’t he be, you might ask? While at college powerhouse Cal State Fullerton, the lefty was the Titans' primary closer with an arsenal that included an upper 80’s fastball (topping out at 90) along with a plus changeup, average slider and curveball. Ramirez also served as a middle of the order power bat with plus-plus raw power. The Brewers honored Ramirez’s request to be a hitter after taking him in the 4th round of this year's draft. So far, it looks like they made the right decision. The 21 year-old Ramirez has collected two or more hits in 8 of his last 9 games, including 5 HR's in his last four games. Double-A first baseman Sean Halton was my Brewers Breakout Player of the Year for 2011. If Ramirez can build upon his early success, he soon could join Halton in fighting for prime billing among first basemen in the Milwaukee system.
Honorable Mentions
3B Roberto De La Cruz, Rookie Level Johnson City (STL): .302 BA, 6 HR, 12 RBI, 7 2B, 5 BB, 20 K in 24 games; 10-for-19, 4 HR, 6 RBI, 3 2B in last week
3B Eric Groff, Rookie Level Missoula (ARI): .337 BA, 5 HR, 19 RBI, 6 2B, 3 3B, 4 BB, 27 K, 5 SB in 24 games; 13-for-28, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 2 2B, 3B in last week
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UTR Minor League NL Pitching Performance of the Week
UTR Minor League AL Performances of the Week
Under the Radar 2011 Archive
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