Mario Ramírez
Encyclopedia
Mario Ramírez Torres is a former Major League Baseball
shortstop
. He played six seasons in the major leagues from until , all coming off the bench. Known mainly for his defensive prowess, Ramírez had a career batting average of .192.
Ramírez was signed as an amateur free agent
by the New York Mets
in . He played five seasons in their farm system, getting his first shot at the major leagues in April 1980. He played 18 games in two different stints in New York, going 5-for-24. He was left off the Mets' major league roster that winter, and was selected by the San Diego Padres
in the Rule 5 Draft
.
After two brief major league appearances in and , Ramírez spent and as the Padres' primary reserve at shortstop, often coming in as a defensive replacement for Garry Templeton
. He was released during spring training in , ending his major league career.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. He played six seasons in the major leagues from until , all coming off the bench. Known mainly for his defensive prowess, Ramírez had a career batting average of .192.
Ramírez was signed as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in . He played five seasons in their farm system, getting his first shot at the major leagues in April 1980. He played 18 games in two different stints in New York, going 5-for-24. He was left off the Mets' major league roster that winter, and was selected by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
After two brief major league appearances in and , Ramírez spent and as the Padres' primary reserve at shortstop, often coming in as a defensive replacement for Garry Templeton
Garry Templeton
Garry Lewis Templeton, nicknamed "Jumpsteady", is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets from 1976 to 1991...
. He was released during spring training in , ending his major league career.