This Date in Marlin History: Harold Ramirez’ Small Victory

The acquisition of Harold Ramirez on this date last year was a shot in the arm to a rebuilding franchise.

Harold Ramirez was on nobody’s radar when the 2019 Marlins took the field. Despite a strong Spring Training that saw him go 11-for-34 over 22 contests, Ramirez was relegated from the Marlins to the New Orleans Baby Cakes in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League to start the season.

A 5-foot-10, 220 lb. right-handed hitting outfielder from Cartagena, Columbia, Ramirez began his professional career in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 2012. He later played in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. On November 2nd of last year, he elected free agency.

Born on September 6th, 1994, the then-24-year-old Ramirez was entering what should be the prime years of a professional baseball player’s career when Miami inked him to a minor league deal on November 27th.

After starting the PCL season with a .355/.408/.591 line over 31 contests, the Marlins called him up on May 11th, and found no cause to ever send him back down.

In 119 games for the parent club, Ramirez ranked tied for fourth on the team with 50 RBI, and slashed .276/.312/.416 with a team-sixth 11 round-trippers. Ramirez had more than his share of highlights on the last-place club.

Defensively, Ramirez only made one error in 919 1/3 defensive innings in the outfield, and proved adept at all three positions, playing at least 160 innings at each. Despite that, he graded out below average defensively, offsetting his positive-0.9 offensive WAR and landing on 0.2 WAR.

It was good to find a diamond-in-the-rough in free agency, and Miami is certainly happy with their surprise outfield asset. Ramirez doesn’t hit free agency until 2026, so they can build around him if they like, trusting that his defensive capability catches up to his solid offensive output.

Other Historic Marlins Transactions

2000 – Joe Fontenot was outrighted to the Triple-A level. He was 0-7 with a 1.781 WHIP in eight career major league starts for Miami in 1998.

2000 – the Marlins relinquished Amaury Garcia (six-for-24 in 10 major league games in 1999) to the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named later. Two weeks later, minor league pitcher Mark Roberts joined the Marlins organization.

2015 – The Marlins signed corner outfielder Destin Hood (six-for-25 in 13 contests) and catcher Francisco Arcia (.228/.307/.283 at high-A and double-A) to minor league deals.

Marlins Birthdays

Right-handed pitcher Kevin Gordon (58) spent the final season of his professional career with the 2000 Kane County Cougars, for whom he was 2-1 with a 3.96 ERA in 36 innings of relief. He struck out 43 and put up a 1.38 WHIP.

Catcher Joel Thys (29) was Miami’s 47th round choice in the 2011 draft, but didn’t end up signing until after the 2013 draft, to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 20 career minor league games, he hit 10-for-48.

More from Marlins History

• Miami Marlins One-Year Wonder 1B
• Miami Marlins players & the 2023 Hall of Fame
• Former Miami Marlins star is retiring
• Gary Sheffield or Mark Buehrle, will either Marlin make the Hall of Fame?
• Why don’t we see more dynasties? Part 3

RHP Robert Morey (31) was the Florida Marlins fifth round pick in 2010, and remained in the system through the 2015 season without graduating above the triple-A level. He went 27-32 with a 4.63 ERA in 119 games, including 100 starts.

Dailyn De Oleo (22) struck out 21 and walked 18 in 35 innings for the 2015 and 2016 DSL Marlins.

Right fielder Dalton Wheat (26) went undrafted out of Division 2 Emporia State, then signed through free agency in 2017. Between the Jupiter Hammerheads and the Greensboro Grasshoppers, he went 39-for-168 with 20 RBI.

Third baseman Denis Karas (24) was chosen by Miami in the 10th round in 2017. In 110 games across three levels of minor league play, he hit .193/.277/.272 before getting released.