SAN FRANCISCO — It took just two games for the Giants to call up Heliot Ramos, and when he arrived at Oracle Park, he found another pleasant surprise. Ramos’ No. 53 was hanging in the locker right next to one of his closest friends in baseball, fellow top prospect Joey Bart.
Ramos is hitting sixth on Sunday against Miami Marlins left-hander Trevor Rogers. He’s starting in left field, and he’s having a hard time wiping the wide smile off his face.
“It’s the happiest day of my life,” Ramos said.
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SIGN UP HERE The 2017 first-round pick spent less than a week back in Triple-A, making Saturday night’s news a surprise. Ramos was pulled in the third inning and some teammates started to joke with him that he was going to The Show. River Cats manager Dave Brundage confirmed it a few minutes later.
Ramos immediately called his older brother, Henry, but couldn’t get through. Henry made his own big league debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season and now plays in South Korea, so he was already on the field working out. Heliot called his parents and then connected with his brother.
“He told me to enjoy the moment,” Heliot said. “Go play. Have fun.”
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The promotion came as a surprise, and also with an adjustment. Ramos was drafted as a center fielder and said his favorite position is right field. He has only played left at Oracle Park a couple of times during the summer workouts in 2020, but none of that matters on a day like this.
“I’m ready. I’m ready,” he said. “I like right field but anywhere honestly. I’m in the big leagues. That’s all that matters.”