Mariners select pitcher Yohan Ramirez from Astros in Rule 5 Draft
After finding success with reliever Brandon Brennan in the Rule 5 Draft a season ago, the Seattle Mariners opted to acquire a pitcher again this year, selecting Yohan Ramirez from the Astros with the sixth overall pick Thursday morning.
Ramirez, a 24-year-old right-hander, has experience as both a starter and reliever, and posted a 4-7 record and 3.99 ERA in 27 games (15 starts) between High-A Fayetteville and Double-A Corpus Christi in 2019. He struck out 158 batters while walking 74 across 106 innings. He has also played in the Dominican Winter League this year.
Ramirez signed with the Astros in 2016 as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic when he was 21 years old. He has spent all four of his professional seasons in Houston’s organization, advancing as high as Double-A. He is 16-21 with a 3.73 ERA in his professional career.
By rule, the Mariners must pay Houston $100,000 to acquire Ramirez, and Ramirez will be directly assigned to Seattle’s 26-man roster, where he must remain throughout the 2020 season — barring injury (he must be active for a minimum of 90 days) or trade — or be offered back to his previous team.
Ramirez’s addition brings Seattle’s 40-man roster to 39 players.
Ramirez was one of two pitchers Seattle had interest in acquiring. General manager Jerry Dipoto told reporters at the annual Winter Meetings in San Diego on Wednesday if both pitchers Seattle had narrowed its list to were unavailable by the sixth pick, the club likely would have passed on participating this year.
Seattle also made three selections in the Triple-A phase of the draft, acquiring catcher Brian O’Keefe from St. Louis in the first round, outfielder Jhonny Santos from Miami in the second round and first baseman Dariel Gomez from St. Louis in the third round.
This story was originally published December 12, 2019 at 9:18 AM.
