Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Joey Bart will not have to campaign for his buddy again this spring training.
After Heliot Ramos was not invited to big-league spring training last year — leading to Bart sticking up for his teammate and saying he belonged there — the Giants’ top outfield prospect has been extended an invitation to this season’s major league camp, his agency announced Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Ramos spent last season at the alternate site in Sacramento, a year after he rose to Richmond, where he played 25 games, and slashed .290/.369/.481 across 102 High- and Double-A games.
Ramos, who is regarded as a five-tool prospect but lacking one exceptional tool, is rated third in the system by MLB Pipeline. If the 2020 minor league season existed, he was set to open where he left off at Richmond, which is again the expectation for 2021, farm director Kyle Haines has said. What could wrench that plan is Ramos having an exceptional spring training, which could elevate him to Triple-A.
While it is not finalized, it’s expected that the Triple-A and major league seasons will start on time, while Double-A on down will be delayed as a way of staggering spring trainings. If Ramos impresses enough to begin at Triple-A, he would better position himself for a call-up.
His goal is to crack into the majors this year, perhaps joining Bart at that level after the two went from San Jose to Richmond together, after the two went to the Futures Game together.
“I miss [Ramos] here big time,” Bart said last year at camp.
This year, beginning with the first full-squad workout Feb. 21, Ramos will be beside him.