Cards at Home: Roel Ramirez
With the start of the MiLB season delayed due to the unprecedented developments surrounding COVID-19, 'Cards at Home' will catch up with different Cardinals prospects to see how they're spending their time. On July 21, 2018, the St. Louis Cardinals swapped OF Tommy Pham for a trio of names that,
With the start of the MiLB season delayed due to the unprecedented developments surrounding COVID-19, 'Cards at Home' will catch up with different Cardinals prospects to see how they're spending their time.
On July 21, 2018, the St. Louis Cardinals swapped OF Tommy Pham for a trio of names that, nearly two years later, are all Top 25 prospects in the Cardinals system.
RHP Roel Ramirez is one of those names (the others are LHP Genesis Cabrera and OF Justin Williams). Ramirez enters 2020 ranked by MLB.com as the Cardinals No. 25 overall prospect and the team's 11th-best pitching prospect.
Ramirez became a mainstay in Springfield's bullpen during the 2019 season as a 23 year old, striking out 80 batters in 72.1 innings over 41 appearances in the hitter-friendly Texas League. That included a stretch of seven scoreless outings from June 12 to July 3, allowing just four hits and two walks over 12.1 innings while striking out 23 during that stretch.
We caught up with the reliever to chat about what he's doing from home at his family's ranch in Laredo, Texas.
How have you been passing the time at home?
"I have been watching a lot of TV and playing video games. Not much else to do other than try and stay in shape!"
Are there any movies or TV shows you've been hooked into binge watching?
"I've been big on 'Ozark' since the new season came out. Crushed it in a day no bueno. But I also finished 'Narcos,' and that was pretty good. I've been watching all of my favorite shows a lot more as well, which is 'Fast N' Loud'--a TV show about restoring old cars."
Any books you've been reading?
"Not really a big reader, but I might have to look into it if I keep rolling through my shows like I have been."
How about video games. Have you been playing any to stay entertained?
"Playing a lot of 'Fortnite,' as always. Plus a little bit of the new 'Call of Duty: War Zone.'"
What's life been like having more time to spend at home?
"I always enjoy my time at home, but it definitely feels weird around this time of year because it's been years since I've been home for April. Definitely feels weird. Mostly because I was ready for this season."
Have there been any challenges with staying in shape? What have you been doing to stay conditioned?
"Playing catch is easy either with my dad or brother, but I can't pitch to either one because that would not be a good outcome! The working-out part is easy. I've always had a couple weights at the house and we live on a ranch, so I just go out and run around to make sure I stay in shape."
Have you happened upon any new cooking skills? What have you focused on diet-wise?
"No cooking skills at the moment. When mom is home nothing is better than her cooking! I don't try to compete with that."
What steps have you taken to stay safe and healthy? Is there a message you'd like to pass on to fans?
"I have just been at home and limiting the times I go to the store to make sure we stay out of contact with people since we don't know who's got what. Just safety procedures that we have been given that I try to follow, like cleaning every day--which isn't fun by the way. But better safe than sorry. Other than that, I would just tell fans to follow what they have been told and not to worry too much. As long as they do what is necessary everything will work itself out in the end."