MIAMI -- Agustín Ramírez had an inkling that the postgame notice he received from Triple-A Jacksonville manager David Carpenter had something to do with the ultimate of promotions for any Minor League player.
When Ram¨ªrez finished the Jumbo Shrimp¡¯s game at Memphis on Sunday, Carpenter relayed a message to the 23-year-old catcher to call home. The message Ram¨ªrez received once he called home confirmed what he sensed: His next baseball game would be in the Major Leagues.
¡°The manager said to call my daughter,¡± Ram¨ªrez said of his 2-year-old, Aileen. ¡°I felt it was 50-50 that the call was about [getting promoted].¡±
The Marlins called up Ram¨ªrez to make his MLB debut in Monday's 6-3 win over the Reds at loanDepot park. Ranked as the Marlins' No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, Ram¨ªrez went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run.
¡°This is incredible, I can¡¯t believe it,¡± Ram¨ªrez said. ¡°So many emotions, and especially gratifying because we won. I proved the type of ballplayer I can be.¡±
Ram¨ªrez was slashing .254/.313/.479 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 19 games with Jacksonville.
¡°I feel great, excited. A lot of emotions,¡± Ram¨ªrez said before the game. ¡°I¡¯ve waited for this time, and I¡¯m here. It is the dream of every kid.¡±
For Ram¨ªrez, the Major League dream began after the Yankees signed him out of the Dominican Republic in 2018. And his path to the Majors got shorter after he joined the Marlins in the trade that sent infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. to New York last July.
¡°At first, it was something that I didn¡¯t expect, although I did hear rumors,¡± Ram¨ªrez said of last year's swap. ¡°Once the trade was confirmed, I was a little down, but it showed I had a tremendous opportunity here.¡±
As Ram¨ªrez progressed through the Yankees¡¯ and Marlins¡¯ systems, his offense maintained an advantage over his work behind the plate. But he said the training he has done, such as blocking pitches and working on his stance, has reduced doubts on any defensive uncertainties.
¡°He has continued his development from the defensive side of the ball,¡± Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. ¡°He worked really hard in Spring Training, showed well, and now, he has his opportunity to make his Major League debut. It¡¯s cool for him and his family.
¡°He¡¯s a good receiver. The blocking and the throwing -- it¡¯s the value of 90 feet. He¡¯s worked hard in those areas. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be very excited today and there will be a lot of adrenaline and emotion -- and that¡¯s how it should be with his debut.¡±
Ram¨ªrez valued the time he spent with the big league club during Spring Training. It was there that he was able to work with right-hander Max Meyer, who Ram¨ªrez helped guide to a 14-strikeout gem against the Reds.
¡°He told me he liked the way I worked with him in Spring Training,¡± Ram¨ªrez said. ¡°Before the game, we talked and went over the hitters. He did a phenomenal job from the start.¡±
But for Ram¨ªrez, the legitimate Major League test began Monday. He said he expected approximately 10 family members at the game, including his daughter.
¡°The team is going to get an excellent player, offensively and defensively,¡± Ram¨ªrez said. ¡°I¡¯m going to help the team any way I can and give 100 percent.¡±