Ben Ramirez: A champion from a championship family

The ultimate prize in baseball is a World Series championship, but it is not the only championship that is held in high regard in American baseball. Whether at the amateur levels or in college, there are many trophies and championships that can define the careers of certain players. Ben Ramirez and his family have been a part of two of these titles.

Ben Ramirez’s brother, Luke, was a member of Chula Vista Little League in 2009. Chula Vista, which is a suburb of the San Diego area in Southern California claimed the title of best Little League baseball team in the world when they defeated Taiwan in Willamsport to claim the Little League World Series title. Ben has many baseball inspirations but that moment was part of what put his brother at the top of his list of role models.

“You always kind of look up to your older brother, when he was 12 he played in the Little League World Series and I just looked up to him even more just watching that and seeing how he handled everything, being in the spotlight and all that,” Ramirez said. “It was easy for me to model myself and model my career and the way I did things after him.”

As previously mentioned, Ramirez has many baseball idols. He also looks up to his Dad who played baseball collegiately and coached him throughout his childhood. Yet Ben is the first member of his family to play professional baseball in the United States. Ben says the moment he realized he was capable of playing professionally was when he played and won a gold medal in the Junior Olympics for Team USA in 2013, the second great baseball championship in his family.

“After that whole experience playing against and with the competition I was with I was like this can be something where I can get to college, get a degree out of it and as college went on I realized I could play pro,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez took his talents to USC for his college baseball years. He said his decision was a no-brainer because of how close the University was to home and because his Grandpa went there. Ramirez hit .304 his junior season and .310 in his senior season, grabbing the attention of MLB organizations. He was ultimately drafted in the 13th round of the 2021 draft by the Seattle Mariners. A moment that encapsulated a childhood of hard work for him and his family.

“My agent called me and said the Mariners were going to draft me and it was still one of those things where I didn’t really believe it until I actually heard my name [get called],” Ramirez said. “It was awesome, I was with my family and being able to share that moment with them… it was awesome. Just all the work me and my Dad had put in it kind of all came full circle and it was a good experience for both of us to just have some relief.”

As a third baseman, Ramirez looks up to the star third baseman of his childhood team, Manny Machado as his professional baseball role model.

“As I got older and more serious I really liked watching Macahdo play,” Ramirez said. “He does it from both sides, especially at third, he has a crazy glove and he is just an exciting guy to watch.”

On the field, Ramirez has always felt the most comfortable at third base, where he has anchored the AquaSox for most of the 2023 season. In order to get to the next level, Ramirez has been focusing on what he can do at the plate to become a better and more complete hitter.

“In college and early on in my professional career, when I am going bad I kind of get pull happy, so I think if it’s outside being able to hit it that way and go gap to gap has really helped me a lot,” Ramirez said.

The AquaSox third baseman is having a solid season. He has been top 10 in the league in RBIs for most of the season and continues to improve as he looks to keep climbing through the Mariners minor league system. As Ramirez’s baseball career continues he is buoyed by the confidence he built all those years ago in the Junior Olympics.

“My favorite baseball memory is probably that USA team I played for when I was 14, there was a lot of good dudes on that team, and a lot of friendships that I made,” Ramirez said. “A lot of those guys are playing in the show or pretty high up in professional baseball so to be able to know those guys and the relationships I built during that time, it was a really cool experience.”

ABOUT THE EVERETT AQUASOX: The Everett AquaSox are the High-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Everett is a member of the Northwest League and has been a Mariners affiliate since establishing the AquaSox moniker in 1995. For updates on the 2023 season, community initiatives and Webbly appearances follow the Frogs on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or visit our website, AquaSox.com. Mini-plans, and group and picnic outings can be purchased by calling (425) 258-3673 or visiting the AquaSox Front Office at 3802 Broadway in Everett.