Ramirez Makes Mark in Brief Stint With 'Cats

NEW BRITAIN, CT - If you blinked you may have missed Wilkin Ramirez in a Rock Cats uniform - and history being made.

Ramirez slugged a solo home run in the Saturday night victory over Reading to give him a homer in four-straight games, tying a franchise record. The feat was previously accomplished by both Dustan Mohr and Michael Cuddyer during the 2001 season.

"I feel pretty good right now," said Ramirez. "I've been working on some things with (Rock Cats hitting coach) Rudy (Hernandez) in the cages on my timing and all that stuff. It's been working very good."

Very good is an understatement. In his 11 games with the Rock Cats, Ramirez batted .388 - going 19-for-49 at the plate - with three doubles, three triples, four home runs, and seven RBI. He also scored 12 runs. His electric bat helped trigger an offense that has struggled at times this season. While the Rock Cats have remained among the top two spots in the Eastern Division, its offense has been lingering among the bottom of the ranks. Ramirez helped bring a spark it needed.

The surge by the Dominican native didn't go unnoticed by the parent-club Minnesota Twins. As a result, the 26-year-old was promoted to Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday.

In his short stint with the Rock Cats, Ramirez brought not only a potent bat to the Rock Cats' lineup but veteran leadership as well.

The eight-year minor league veteran has not only spent three previous seasons in the Eastern League - playing the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons with Erie - but has also put in time in the big leagues.

In 2009, Ramirez made his Major League Debut with the Detroit Tigers. He batted .364 with one home run and three RBI in 15 games. Two seasons later, he played in 20 games with the Atlanta Braves, going 6-for-20 (.231).

"It's cool to play in the big leagues. Every player's goal is to get to the big leagues," said Ramirez, "playing with guys like Chipper Jones and Miguel Cabrera."

It is a place where Ramirez would like to return. With the Twins looking for life in its lineup as well, Ramirez could join another member of the 2012 Rock Cats who already made the jump to the big leagues, Darin Mastroianni.

"Like I said, everybody is playing to play in the big leagues, not to play in Double-A," Ramirez said. "If I keep doing what I'm doing every day - that's play hard and do my job - hopefully something like that will happen."

After just 11 games with New Britain, he already finds him one step closer. This time, the Eastern League could be in his rearview mirror for good.