Heliot Ramos

If you're looking for some positives to take away from Ramos' 2023 campaign you'll first want to look at the .300/.382/.546 he slashed in 62 games at Triple-A Sacramento. It was a massive step up after he hit only .227/.305/.349 over 108 games there in 2022. Ramos also sported a robust 13.9 percent barrel rate during his brief time in the majors. The opportunities with the Giants were sporadic, though, and he finished with a .537 OPS and 33.3 percent strikeout rate. You could make a case for there being some post-hype sleeper appeal with Ramos, who is still just 24 years of age. That said, the results in the majors, while a small sample, have been ugly, and there's no guarantee of playing time in 2024.

Ramos' prospect shine has faded since he looked like a potential star in the lower minors. The 23-year-old reached the majors in 2022, but he struggled during a brief nine-game stay and also put up a dreadful .654 OPS at Triple-A Sacramento. He still has the big raw power which has always intrigued the Giants, but Ramos' hit tool hasn't developed as hoped and his speed has evaporated as he's filled out. Youth remains on Ramos' side, but he's got some work to do before fantasy managers can take him seriously again.

Ramos spent the summer at the alternate site, where he played all three outfield positions and matured as a person and a hitter. An oblique injury that bothered him during spring training (pre-shutdown) popped back up during the fall instructional league, limiting his reps there. In a normal year, he would have opened at Double-A, where he finished 2019, and may have finished the year at Triple-A. He may still open his age-21 season at Double-A, but it seems clear that if he has a great first couple months, Ramos could make his MLB debut this year. Plus power to all fields is his top tool, while his declining speed may force a move to an outfield corner. The big question for fantasy regards his hit tool. He had a 31.1 K% in 25 games as one of the youngest players at Double-A in 2019 but improved his approach at the alternate site. At the very least, he should help in R, RBI, HR, but perhaps not until 2022.

Ramos was the youngest non-Padre in the Cal League but performed as the third-best hitter on the circuit (143 wRC+) while playing home games in one of the league's most pitcher-friendly parks (San Jose). That 77-game showing made his 2019 a huge success after a middling full-season debut in 2018. Despite a thicker frame (6-foot, 190 pounds), he has maintained explosive athleticism, particularly in the outfield. However, he was 9-for-20 on SB attempts (including the Arizona Fall League), so steals should not be considered a big part of the fantasy package. Ramos excels at covering the whole plate and hitting for power to all fields. He struggled at times at Double-A and in the AFL, but got valuable experience against more advanced pitching for when he returns to the Eastern League this year. He could develop into a Yoenis Cespedes-caliber fantasy producer, but probably won't make his MLB debut until 2021.

One of the toolsiest players from the 2017 draft, Ramos played the entire 2018 season as an 18-year-old at Low-A, which is important to remember when evaluating his performance. He was the second-youngest qualified hitter in the Sally League and was still slightly better (104 wRC+) than the league’s average hitter. Ramos was a plus runner with at least 60-grade raw power when he signed, but he has started to fill out his 6-foot-2 frame and no longer posts plus run times -- he was 8-for-15 on stolen-base attempts. His 2017 AZL numbers are much more impressive at first glance, but Ramos actually made positive strides as a hitter in 2018. He cut his strikeout rate from 31.8% to 25.4% and used the whole field more often (22.2 Oppo% in 2017, 33.8 Oppo% in 2018). Given his age and power potential, Ramos still has a chance to be a quality everyday right fielder, but his declining speed makes it less likely that he turns into the fantasy force many were hoping for.

The 19th overall pick in last year's draft, Ramos gets compared to Yoenis Cespedes for his size and swing. While he is still quite raw, he has the upside to surpass these comps with a better batting average and surprising speed for his size. He figures to continue to fill out his 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame, but for now he can handle center field. With quick hands and impressive bat speed, Ramos showed off his plus power in the AZL. He led the league with a .645 SLG and his .297 ISO ranked second among hitters with at least 150 plate appearances. He was expected to deal with more growing pains in his first pro season, but he was able to thrive despite a 31.8 percent strikeout rate, due in large part to his .500 BABIP. Ramos suffered a season-ending concussion in late August, but it is not expected to affect his offseason routine. He is already the top prospect in the Giants' system, and a top-10 dynasty-league target from last year's draft class.