Ramirez -- who is being stretched out as a starter -- made his spring training debut Monday, pitching 1.2 innings while giving up a run on two hits while walking two and striking out three. He said after the game that he was feeling fatigued, The Orange County Register reports.
Feeling fatigued after throwing less than two innings is a sign that the Ramirez project may not come to fruition come Opening Day. It is early, so there is time for the former reliever to build up his arm strength and stamina this spring. The lanky righty features a fastball in the mid-to-high 90s, but he doesn't have much in terms of secondary pitches, which has led to a pedestrian 6.5 K/9 in his career. The Angels can either keep Ramirez on track to become a starter, which would likely land him in Triple-A Salt Lake to start the year, or they can scrap the plan and have him join the big league club as a reliever, a role he posted a 4.35 ERA in over 78.2 innings last season.