Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
SCOTTSDALE — It is exciting to watch Heliot Ramos, and not just because he consistently has made solid contact and drilled three spring home runs in 29 plate appearances.
He sprints everywhere. He takes vicious cuts. He looks like a 21-year-old player who is trying to show his team that he can handle the major leagues right now and will do anything to prove that. It’s endearing, it’s impressive and it’s possibly a downside to his game at the moment.
He has had a couple adventures in the outfield in the Cactus League and was charged with his second error on Thursday, when he might have been over-amped.
“I think he’s playing like a player that wants to make an impression on his teammates and on the staff,” Gabe Kapler said after the 6-3 loss to the Mariners at Scottsdale Stadium. “… He’s a physical player, and I don’t mind that aggressiveness at this stage.”
In the sixth with runners on first and third, Taylor Trammell lofted a long fly to right, Ramos tracking it to the wall and jumping. He missed, the ball bounding away, and Ramos turning on the jets to grab it and throw — but he whiffed in trying to barehand it. Mauricio Dubon, playing center, had run over and threw in to Tommy La Stella — who also bobbled it, Trammell winding up on third and the Giants’ league-worst 20th error charged to Ramos.
There is a tenaciousness to his game that Giants fans will love, but it might need to be better harnessed.
“I would much rather have a player like Ramos who at some point we may need to tone down just a little bit or ask to have a tiny bit more control in all facets of his game than having to turn the dial up,” Kapler said over Zoom.
Ramos also lined a single to right, upping his spring average to .379 and showing why the Giants wanted a longer look at him, the lone top prospect not to be demoted in the first round of cuts.
“There’s certainly room for improvement. He’s got a long way to go, and there are going to be some tweaks,” Kapler said. “Maybe one of them at some point is to play under control, just a little bit more. But right now, we love the aggressiveness — kind of a loud style of play is really encouraging.”
Kapler on Ashton Goudeau, whom the Giants claimed from the Orioles: “We know he had a fantastic ’19 for Colorado in Double-A,” the manager said of the 28-year-old, who posted a 2.07 ERA with 91 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings that campaign. “Excellent strike-thrower. His fastball-curveball combination has been pretty good for him this spring. He feels confident he can throw his changeup anytime to right- or left-handed hitters. He’s feeling really good right now, and we’re excited to have him.”
Kapler did not disclose whether the Giants plan to use him as a starting option or reliever or something in between. There is a good chance they will try to sneak Goudeau through waivers.
Donovan Solano continues to show he should be in the lineup every day. The 33-year-old lined a two-run double the other way, to right, in the third off Seattle righty Justin Dunn.
He hits southpaws better, but he has raked against righties, too, in his Giants career. He is now batting .500 in the Cactus League.
Donnie double. #SFGSpring pic.twitter.com/4UfL8hKpp8
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) March 19, 2021
Silvino Bracho, a non-roster righty trying to make the team, struck out the side and now has 11 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings while allowing two runs. The injury to Dedniel Nunez opened up a bullpen spot, and he’s making a strong case to claim it.
Lefty Sam Selman, who was excellent last year, was knocked around for four runs (three earned) while recording one out. The Giants are stacked with southpaws, and Selman likely will start the year in Sacramento.
Mauricio Dubon, whose plate discipline has been significantly improved, drew his ninth walk in 30 plate appearances. He has a .517 on-base percentage.
Tommy La Stella struck out twice in three at-bats. He struck out 12 times in 228 plate appearances last year.
Prospect Will Wilson was robbed of extra bases when Braden Bishop (Hunter‘s brother) rose, crashed against the left-field wall and came down with the catch. Wilson has made a lot of solid contact and does not have much to show for it. As he fills out, maybe those will become home runs.
As expected, Aaron Sanchez will debut Friday and start against Cincinnati. He had thrown three sim innings Sunday.
Marco Luciano collected his second hit of the spring and first to the outfield, looping one to right. The 19-year-old super prospect is 2-for-19.