SF Giants
SCOTTSDALE — Heliot Ramos’ run in major league camp lasted longer than expected. Now he will hope his dash to the major leagues will take shorter than expected.
The 21-year-old top outfield prospect was among five reassigned to minor league camp on Saturday — theoretically at least, as that minor league camp does not exist — as the Giants cut down from 47 to 42, before breaking camp with 26 who will head to Seattle for the season opener.
Also sent down were outfielder Steven Duggar, who has shown better plate discipline in the Cactus League, and lefty Sam Long, who has come from nowhere (and Sacramento State) to be a possible starting option for the Giants at some point this year. Lefty Anthony Banda and utility man Jason Krizan rounded out the demoted, though they still may be appear in spring games.
Ramos was surprisingly not included in the first round of cuts, when all the other top prospects were delivered the bad news, and the Giants said they wanted to see a bit more from an outfielder who had played just 25 games at Double-A. He had some issues in the field — though the Giants continue to say he can project as a center fielder, where he wants to remain — but excelled with the bat. He’s gone 11-for-28 (.393) with three home runs in the exhibition season, a near daily dose of excitement from a top-ranked prospect who goes all-out.
Ramos had little chance to open with the Giants, whose biggest outfield need is a lefty-hitting center fielder, and Ramos is a righty. If he plays well in the minors — and he is expected to start the season at Double-A — he should get a chance this season. His best path to playing time could come if something happens with Brandon Crawford because Mauricio Dubon, the Giants’ center fielder, is also the backup shortstop.
Duggar will hope his chance comes sooner. He is one of the few natural center fielders around the organization, but his bat has never played at the major league level. He overhauled the swing last year, and this year has reverted to a more comfortable stance. Encouraging has been his two opposite-field home runs and eight walks in 30 plate appearances; discouraging has been the 10 strikeouts.
Long had one hiccup, but the lefty has impressed and is a 25-year-old with a nice fastball and big curve who will work his way up. Banda, picked up from Tampa last year, will be another lefty depth option, while the 31-year-old Krizan, who has a minor league career of good bat-to-ball skills, hopes he will finally debut this year.