Ramirez was released by the Twins on Wednesday, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.
Ramirez began the season at Triple-A St. Paul and posted a 5.66 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 35 innings over 16 appearances (two starts). The right-hander hasn't made much of an impact over the last few seasons and will now be forced to seek out a new organization.
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Twins' JC Ramirez: Lands with Minnesota
Rotowire
Ramirez signed a minor-league deal with Minnesota on Thursday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Ramirez owns a 4.71 ERA in 288.1 career MLB innings, though just 14.2 of those have come in the last four years. He's been out of affiliated ball entirely over the last two seasons, pitching in Mexico and Taiwan. In nine starts for the Fubon Guardians of the CPBL last season, he recorded a 3.69 ERA and 1.19 WHIP.
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JC Ramirez: Bound for Taiwan
Rotowire
Ramirez signed a contract Monday with the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
Ramirez will presumably get the chance to start full-time in Taiwan, something he hasn't done regularly since 2017. He missed most of the following two years due to Tommy John surgery and failed to make the Angels' active roster at any point in 2020. He could theoretically earn another big-league deal with a strong showing overseas, but given that he'll turn 33 next season, it's quite likely his MLB days are over.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Preparing for role as starter
Rotowire
JC Ramirez is being stretched out as a starting pitcher this spring, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Manager Joe Maddon wants Ramirez to be available as both a starting pitcher or reliever once the season arrives. The 31-year-old started eight games for Triple-A Salt Lake in 2019, posting a 6.59 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 26 strikeouts across 41 innings. With teammate Griffin Canning heading for an MRI on Friday, it is possible that Ramirez could tackle a few starts earlier in the season while the Angels wait for their ace Shohei Ohtani to return to the mound around mid-May.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Regains velocity in Mexican league
Rotowire
Ramirez pushed his fastball up to the 96 mph range in the Mexican Winter League, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.
In his return to the big leagues following Tommy John surgery last season, Ramirez exhibited a significantly scaled-down fastball, averaging only 91.0 mph on his four-seamer per Statcast. If he is able to sustain the velocity he reportedly flashed over the winter, it would mark a return to his 2017 level. During that season, Ramirez averaged 95.6 mph on both his sinker and four-seam fastball, though the end result was still an unimpressive 16.9 K%.
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JC Ramirez: Back with Angels
Rotowire
Ramirez and the Angels agreed to a minor-league deal Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Ramirez endured a tough 2019 season as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery. He labored through his rehab outings, finishing the year with a 6.56 ERA in 48 minor-league innings while making just five appearances at the major-league level. If he does re-establish himself in the big leagues this season, don't expect too much, as he owns a career 4.71 ERA at the highest level.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Ramirez was sent outright to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.
Ramirez has posted a 4.50 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with four strikeouts over eight innings since being reinstated from the injured list July 30, but he'll head to the minors following Thursday's roster move. He'll have the option of either accepting an assignment with the Bees or becoming a free agent.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Feels ready for return from IL
Rotowire
Ramirez (elbow) said after his rehab outing Sunday with High-A Inland Empire that he feels prepared to return from the 60-day injured list and make his season debut, the Associated Press reports.
On the comeback trail following April 2018 Tommy John surgery, Ramirez has made 12 minor-league rehab appearances spanning two different assignment periods. The Angels initially intended to bring back Ramirez in a starting role, but the team has since indicated that he will work in long relief once reinstated from the IL, perhaps as soon as Tuesday. Ramirez isn't expected to cover more than three innings in any of his appearances the rest of the season.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
Ramirez (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
Ramirez is finally back in action after recovering from last April's Tommy John surgery. He recorded a 7.40 ERA in 41.1 rehab innings, so expectations should perhaps be kept low for now. He's expected to serve as a long reliever down the stretch. Adam McCreery was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Set for final rehab outing
Rotowire
Ramirez (elbow) is scheduled to make his final rehab appearance with High-A Inland Empire on Sunday, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Ramirez is scheduled to throw about 20 pitches as he prepares to join the Angels in a bullpen role coming off Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old's rehab assignment will run out Tuesday, so he'll have to be activated by that point.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Could need two more rehab outings
Rotowire
Manager Brad Ausmus indicated that Ramirez (elbow) may require two more rehab appearances before coming off the injured list, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ramirez last pitched Sunday with High-A Inland Empire, which was his 10th rehab appearance as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old will slot into a bullpen role upon his activation.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Nearing end of rehab
Rotowire
Ramirez is nearing the end of a 15-month rehab from Tommy John surgery, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Upon his return, Ramirez will be pitching out of the bullpen. A starter for the Angels in 2017, Ramirez went 11-10 with a 4.15 ERA in 27 appearances. He has not reached full command on his slider nor has he been able to reach the full velocity on his fastball (95.6 mph over his first five seasons in the big leagues). The Angels have some holes in their pitching staff due to the passing of Tyler Skaggs and decision to drop Matt Harvey from the roster, so once Ramirez has more authority on his pitches, he could be stretched back out as a starter.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Another rehab outing on tap
Rotowire
Ramirez (elbow) will make another rehab appearance for High-A Inland Empire on Sunday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ramirez fired 45 pitches over three innings for Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out three. He's set to throw another 45 pitches in his next rehab appearance. The right-hander, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, said he's expected to return when his rehab window expires at the end of July, and he'll be brought back up to speed as a reliever, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Set for another rehab outing
Rotowire
Ramirez (elbow) will make at least one more rehab start, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ramirez has been on a rehab assignment since late May as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, but he's been unconvincing so far, posting a 7.91 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP in 33 innings. His rehab expires in late July, so he doesn't have too many more chances to prove to the Angels that he's worth a spot on the pitching staff.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Endures rough rehab start
Rotowire
Ramirez (elbow) had a tough time on his rehab start for Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday, allowing seven runs on 10 hits (including four homers) in five innings of work.
Ramirez seems to be close to a return from Tommy John surgery, but his poor outing may cause the Angels to hesitate to bring him back right away. He now owns a 7.91 ERA, an 18:15 K:BB and a 1.76 WHIP in 33 rehab innings. He's allowed to remain on his rehab stint until late July and seems likely to do so unless his next outing is considerably more impressive.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Needs at least one more rehab start
Rotowire
Ramirez (elbow) will make at least one more rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake, Josh Tolentino of The Athletic reports.
Ramirez owns a poor 7.07 ERA and a 14:13 K:BB in 28 rehab innings, though he did record a quality start Friday night. He should be back soon after the All-Star break.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Making another rehab start
Rotowire
Ramirez (elbow) will make another rehab start for Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
The start could be Ramirez's final one as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. He's thrown a total of six rehab outings so far, posting a poor 7.77 ERA and 11:11 K:BB over 22 innings of work -- not exactly providing much reason for confidence that he'll be able to become a rotation fixture in the second half.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Set for another rehab start
Rotowire
Ramirez (elbow) allowed two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four in a rehab start at Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Ramirez recently had his rehab stint extended and has now made five starts with Salt Lake, reaching 82 pitches in Saturday's outing. The Angels want the 30-year-old to make at least one additional start in the minors, seemingly setting him up to be activated shortly after the All-Star break.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Rehab extended
Rotowire
Ramirez (elbow) has extended his rehab assignment, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Ramirez is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, so this allows the right-hander to extend his rehab assignment by another 30 days. As such, the Angels will not activate Ramirez from the injured list before the end of the month, as was originally expected. It's unclear how many additional rehab appearances Ramirez will make before activation, though a return after the All-Star break now seems likely.
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Angels' JC Ramirez: Excels in latest rehab start
Rotowire
Ramirez (elbow) tossed 5.2 innings in his rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Salt Lake, giving up one run on six hits and three walks while striking out two.
Ramirez tossed 86 pitches (51 strikes) in the outing, marking the second straight rehab start in which he's cleared the 80-pitch threshold. That sort of workload suggests Ramirez is ready to return from the 60-day injured list without any restrictions, but the Angels have yet to decide when he'll be activated or if he'll be included in the big-league rotation. Los Angeles has until June 29 before Ramirez's 30-day rehab window closes.
