SAN FRANCISCO -- Two weeks after he was taken with the 19th pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Heliot Ramos was introduced at Oracle Park. As he was wrapping up his first interview as a professional, Ramos, 17 at the time, smiled and said he hoped to be back in just three years as a Giants outfielder.
"I know it's hard, but that's my dream," Ramos said at the time. "I know I've got to work hard for that."
Ramos put in the work, transforming his body and his mentality at the plate, but he could not have foreseen back then how hard the journey would be. His third season as a minor leaguer was completely lost to a pandemic. That set him back, and he was tested on the field in 2021.
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Ramos came to camp this spring without a realistic shot of making the big league roster, but for the first time, he was on the 40-man roster, just one phone call and a short drive away if the Giants felt the timing was right. On Sunday, they did.
Ramos will hit sixth for the Giants in their third game of the season and play left field in his MLB debut. He arrives at the age of 22, three years younger than any other Giants position player.
"He's done nothing but give us full confidence that he can come up and manage good at-bats and play good defense for us," manager Gabe Kapler said. "Now, there's no guarantee that that happens, but it felt like the right time to give him his opportunity. He earned it and it's certainly a really exciting moment for the Giants organization, for his coaches, for me personally, and there's nobody more fired up than Heliot, obviously."
Ramos called this "the happiest day of my life," but as the Giants prepared for the debut of one of their top prospects, it was hard not to wonder how many similarly happy days will immediately follow. They still believe Ramos has more to work on at the minor league level, but Kapler pointed out that more and more development takes place in the big leagues these days.
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Kapler wouldn't say whether this was the start of a long run in the big leagues or a temporary boost for a lineup lacking impact bats against left-handed pitching. The Giants picked Sunday in part because the Miami Marlins had left-hander Trevor Rogers on the mound, and they're likely to see San Diego's Sean Manaea on Wednesday. Beyond that, there's uncertainty.
Ramos took John Brebbia's roster spot after the right-hander went on the bereavement list, which can be used for up to three days. The Giants seem likely to follow that up by putting Tyler Rogers on the paternity list as his wife has the couple's first child, but they'll have to make a more definitive decision by the start of a four-city road trip on Friday. The first two opponents, the Cleveland Guardians and New York Mets have rotations that are entirely right-handed.
"We look at it as an opportunity for Heliot to perform," Kapler said of the length of this call-up. "I don't think we have to see beyond today's game and some upcoming games. We'll see how he does and how comfortable he is at the Major League level."
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Making the move Sunday allowed Kapler to use eight right-handed bats against Rogers, one of the better young southpaws in the league. Brandon Crawford is the lone lefty, with Ramos, Mauricio Dubon and Austin Slater making up the outfield and fellow newcomer Luke Williams making his Giants debut at third base.
It is a sneaky-big day for a lot of Giants. Dubon started his season with a big baserunning mistake and is out of options. He's here to hit lefties, just like Williams, who beat out Jason Vosler for the final bench spot.
All eyes will be on No. 53, though.
"This is really about Heliot's talent and the timing being right for him to make an impact on our roster," Kapler said, "What he's accomplished in his minor league career, and what he accomplished for us in camp the last couple of years. And obviously, getting off to a good start in Sacramento helped."