Bryan Ramos Feels Right At Home

Jose Abreu, Yoan Moncada, Yasmani Grandal and Luis Robert are White Sox players with a common bond. They all were born in Cuba.

The pipeline extends into Chicago’s minor league system and includes outfielder Yoelqui Cespedes, righthander Norge Vera and shortstop Yolbert Sanchez.

Third baseman Bryan Ramos is another young talent born in Cuba who feels right at home in the White Sox organization.

“No doubt, I think the success that these players have had with us in the past and are currently having with us, it helps,” White Sox international director Marco Paddy said. “I think that every Cuban player in the market can see how well Jose and Moncada and now Luis have adjusted to our system, and they like the city and the organization.

“I think it helps tremendously and they’re excited to hopefully get an opportunity to be part of this organization.”

Having just turned 19 years old, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Ramos is already on the rise with Chicago despite not playing last season because the coronavirus pandemic canceled the season.

“A young, really interesting prospect,” White Sox farm director Chris Getz said.

Ramos last played in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2019, where he hit .277/.353/.415 with four home runs in 51 games while leading the team in runs (36), doubles (10) and walks (19). Getz projects Ramos to reach Low-A Kannapolis or High-A Winston-Salem at some point this season.

The 2018 international signing out of Havana solidified his positive status by playing well at instructional league.

“Bryan Ramos is a very strong kid. He can swing the bat, and we signed him as a third baseman,” Paddy said, addressing speculation Ramos will eventually change positions. “He’s a very polished kid. He works hard and he’s got a lot of ability, so I think that the power and defense combination is going to be something special.”

 

 

 

 

CHI-LITES

— First baseman Andrew Vaughn might wind up replacing Eloy Jimenez in left field this season. Jimenez is expected to miss most or all of the season with a ruptured pectoral muscle.

— A question mark coming into camp after having shoulder surgery in October, Nick Madrigal is healthy and locked back in as Chicago’s starting second baseman.