Some would say that Wilson Ramos, who the Nationals acquired in 2010 from the Minnesota Twins as part of the Matt Capps trade, is simply holding the catcher’s spot warm until Derek Norris is ready to take the reins.  Maybe that’s true, maybe it’s not, but you had better believe that Ramos is going to do everything possible in 2010 to prove that he is a viable everyday catcher in the major leagues.

After being blocked by Joe Mauer in Minnesota, Ramos should enter 2011 sharing time with Ivan Rodriguez behind the plate.  However, with Rodriguez now 39-years-old, you had better believe that Ramos, sooner or later, will be given the opportunity to claim the job as all his own.

He got a look in both Minnesota and Washington in 2010, posting the following line:

  • 79 At Bats
  • .278 Batting Average (22 Hits)
  • One Home Run
  • Five RBI
  • Five Runs
  • No Stolen Bases
  • .305 On Base Percentage
  • .405 Slugging Percentage
  • .318 Batting Average on Balls in Play

Obviously, it is too small of a sample size to draw any significant conclusions from.  In 1,479 minor league at-bats, he posted a .285 average with 39 HR, 219 RBI and 182 R.  That is a much bigger sampling than we can use.

His career-high in home runs came in 2008 at High-A ball, when he had 13 HR in 452 AB (about a home run once every 35 AB).  For his minor league career, his home run rate is about once every 38 at bats.  Clearly, his power isn’t going to make him overly attractive to fantasy owners.

However, that wouldn’t be completely accurate.  Baseball America, who ranked him as the Nationals fifth-best prospect heading into 2011 (Norris was second), said this:

“Ramos has good loft and leverage in his swing, giving him a chance to hit for solid-average or slightly better power in time. He does get pull-happy, and he must improve his contact rate and patience at the plate. Conditioning has been an issue for Ramos in the past, and he’s a well below-average runner.”

That should give us hope that maybe he could develop into a 15-20 HR hitter, but he’s clearly not quite there yet.

He’s a catcher so you shouldn’t expect much speed, which goes without saying.  Still, only five runs in 79 AB in the major leagues?  He’s actually never even scored more than 50 in a minor league season.  That’s not very inspiring, nor is the fact that he’s not going to hit anywhere in the lineup that brings significant run scoring ability.  Given the time share, under 40 runs scored may be a given.

Yes, he has a decent contact bat, though he still posted a 17.71 percent strikeout rate over his minor league career.  He also didn’t draw many walks, with a 5.68 percent walk rate.  Are these really numbers that are going to get fantasy owners excited?

Yes, he has potential and, at 23-years-old, he has plenty of time to realize it.  Still, fantasy owners simply looking towards 2011 would like to have seen a little bit more in order to depend on him.  Even in two-catcher formats, he’s a huge gamble.  He just hasn’t shown enough and he is going to be sharing time with Rodriguez.

If you want to grab him as a depth option, that’s fine.  Unfortunately, at this point, that’s about all he’s worth.

What are your thoughts on Ramos?  Is there any chance in him developing into a more attractive option in 2011?  Do you have any interest in?

Make sure to check out our other Prospect Reports as we wrap up 2010 and head towards 2011:

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