In an unexpected move this morning, the White Sox announced they are optioning young third baseman Bryan Ramos to AAA Charlotte. The corresponding move is currently unknown, but Luis Robert Jr. is in the midst of a rehab assignment in AAA. Reinstating him from the injured list before tomorrow night’s game in Milwaukee could be the other domino that falls due to this roster shuffling. In any case, Ramos will go to Charlotte for now.
Ramos’s Initial MLB Stint
Ramos’s initial MLB stint was a mixed bag. In his first ten MLB games, he slashed .281/.294/.344 and showed promise with the glove and bat. Unfortunately, he went on the injured list shortly after with a strained left quad and missed over a week and a half of game action because of that injury. It appears as if his time on the shelf screwed with his rhythm, as Ramos has gone hitless in 14 at-bats with five strikeouts with the White Sox since returning from the injury.
Thankfully for Ramos, he is only 22 years old and will undoubtedly return to Chicago later this season. When the White Sox called him up initially, he was struggling in AA and had never even played at the AAA level. Giving him consistent at-bats at the highest level in the minors might benefit his development. There is no reason to let him get overmatched by big-league pitching day after day and potentially kill his confidence.
Beneficiaries Of The Demotion
In the meantime, Danny Mendick will most likely benefit from Ramos’s demotion. Mendick should become the starting third baseman for now and continue getting consistent at-bats. Given his ability to play third base, Zach Remillard could also see increased playing time because of this move. Whether or not it is a good idea to give two veteran players over 30 playing time over a 22-year-old on a 15-42 team is another question, but clearly, that is the route the White Sox have chosen to take.
Long-Term Development Is Priority Number One
This demotion is just a tiny bump in the road for Ramos regarding his career trajectory. He is over four and a half years younger than the average AAA player and almost six years younger than the average MLB player. He has plenty of time to get back on track, and given his minor league track record, he probably will. If he is not ready, there is no reason to throw him to the wolves in the big leagues. His long-term development is priority number one.
Change In Approach
The news of Ramos’s demotion was unexpected but also refreshing. The White Sox front office has started to learn from its past mistakes of rushing prospects. Over the years, countless White Sox prospects have been negatively affected from a development standpoint because they were called up too early. Chris Getz seems to have a better understanding of the development process of young players than his predecessors did. Giving Ramos a fresh start at AAA is an example of that. Hopefully, he will take the demotion in stride and return to Chicago better than ever the next time when he returns.
