HAROLD RAMÍREZ NEWS

Homers, drives in two Ramirez went 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's victory over the Pirates.

Impact Ramirez opened the scoring Tuesday with an RBI single in the fourth inning before swiping second base for his first steal of the season. The 28-year-old Ramirez would later extend Tampa's lead to 4-1 in the sixth with his sixth homer of the season. Ramirez has gotten off to a great start this season, slashing .342/.412/.658 with 13 RBI and 13 runs scored in 85 plate appearances. However, he's seen a reduction in playing time recently, starting just four out of the Rays' last seven games.

MAY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Playing time precarious Ramirez was out of the lineup Saturday against the White Sox.

Impact Jose Siri's return has crowded the Rays' lineup, and Ramirez is the early playing time loser by sitting in three of the team's last five games. Particularly alarming for Ramirez is that the team has opted to keep Taylor Walls in the lineup due to his strong defense, which has forced Brandon Lowe to serve as the designated hitter -- one of Ramirez's primary paths to playing time. Even with a 1.033 OPS across 76 plate appearances, Ramirez's role with the club is currently unclear.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting versus righty Ramirez is not in the lineup Thursday against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact It's a lineup that is heavy on left-handed and switch-hitters for this matchup against ace right-hander Dylan Cease. Brandon Lowe will DH and Taylor Walls is at second base. Ramirez is sitting on a terrific .354/.417/.677 slash line through 72 plate appearances on the year.

APRIL 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Tuesday Ramirez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The Tampa Bay outfield and designated-hitter picture became more murky Tuesday with Jose Siri (hamstring) returning from the injured list, but despite getting Tuesday off, Ramirez should be well insulated from a playing-time perspective. Ramirez enters the series opener in Houston sporting a monstrous 1.145 OPS over his 69 plate appearances on the season.

APRIL 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes deep again Sunday Ramirez went 1-fot-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-1 victory over the White Sox.

Impact Ramirez followed up a two-run blast by Luke Raley in the second with a homer of his own in the third to put the Rays up 4-0. The 28-year-old has left the yard twice over his last three games and is working on a nine-game hitting streak. He's been locked in at the plate throughout the majority of the early season, slashing .373/.422/.712 with five homers, 10 RBI, 11 runs and a 4:10 BB:K and is also near the top of the league with a 1.134 OPS.

APRIL 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs fourth homer Ramirez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Friday's 8-7 win over the White Sox.

Impact He capped a four-run first inning for the Rays by taking Michael Kopech yard, giving Ramirez his fourth homer of the season and extending his hitting streak to seven games. The 28-year-old only hit six home runs in 120 contests last year, but his power surge has fueled a .373/.429/.667 slash line through 15 contests that also includes three doubles, nine RBI and 10 runs.

APRIL 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Wednesday Ramirez will sit Wednesday versus the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Ramirez will get a day off after he went 4-for-9 with a run scored over the first two contests of the series, extending his hit streak to six games. Randy Arozarena will slide into the designated hitter role while Luke Raley takes over in left field and bats fourth in the series finale.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets breather Friday Ramirez isn't starting Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Coming off the heels of a 3-for-4 performance Thursday in which he logged three RBI, Ramirez will get a day off in Friday's series opener. His absence allows Josh Lowe to start in right field and bat eighth.

APRIL 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Stays hot in win Ramirez went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and a run scored in Thursday's win over the Red Sox.

Impact Both of Ramirez's doubles came in the Rays' seven-run fifth inning. He'd open the frame with his first two-bagger before clearing the bases with a grounder down the third base line. Ramirez now has 10 hits in his last 23 at-bats, including three doubles and three home runs. His OPS is up to 1.092 early in the season with seven RBI and six runs scored.

APRIL 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Continues power surge Ramirez went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, three runs scored and two RBI in Sunday's win over the Athletics.

Impact Ramirez went 0-for-8 over his first three games of the year but has turned things around recently, tallying three home runs and a double over his last four matchups. The 28-year-old has been competing with Luke Raley for time as the designated hitter, and it remains to be seen whether Ramirez will be able to maintain his production since he totaled just 13 home runs over the last two seasons.

APRIL 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tallies first homer Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a single and a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-2 victory over the Nationals.

Impact After an 0-for-8 slump, Ramirez broke out with two hits, including a solo home run in the sixth inning that extended the Rays' lead to 4-2. Despite his positive outing, the 28-year-old must compete with Luke Raley for designated hitter responsibilities, where whoever has the better pitching matchup will likely get the start. Although Ramirez has demonstrated the potential to make a significant impact, he is not anticipated to be a substantial contributor down the stretch.

APRIL 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Saturday Ramirez will be on the bench Saturday against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Ramirez went hitless in his two at-bats on Opening Day. Luke Raley will take over at designated hitter Saturday.

APRIL 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back in lineup Saturday Ramirez (finger) is in the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact A pitch off his left pinkie finger forced Ramirez from Wednesday's exhibition game. However, the Rays said his removal was precautionary and Ramirez's quick return to action confirms that it was a relatively minor issue. Ramirez, who is 5-for-16 this spring without an extra-base hit, projects to be in the middle of the lineup on a regular basis for Tampa Bay.

MARCH 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Exits after hit-by-pitch Ramirez was removed in the bottom of the fourth inning of Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies after being hit by a pitch in the left hand, Kristie Ackert of the...

Impact It's possible the Rays simply removed Ramirez for precautionary purposes, but he'll presumably be checked out in the locker room by the training staff before the team provides an update on the severity of his injury. Ramirez rejoined the Rays over the past weekend following a recent stint with Team Colombia in the World Baseball Classic.

MARCH 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back from WBC Ramirez has started two games since returning from the World Baseball Classic, and he's gone 2-for-5 with an RBI in that span.

Impact Ramirez played for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic, though he managed only two hits across 16 plate appearances. He's fared better overall with the Rays in spring training, though he has drawn zero walks and zero extra-base hits with five strikeouts across 16 plate appearances. Despite the minimal production, Ramirez remains a prime candidate to see work as the designated hitter in the Rays' lineup come the regular season.

MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ranking the best 18 DHs of 2023 in the MLB

Who are baseball's best designated hitters? Ben Verlander breaks down his tiers.

MARCH 1, 2023

Wins arb case versus Tampa Bay Ramirez won his arbitration case against the Rays and will make $2.2 million in 2023, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Impact Tampa Bay had filed at $1.9 million, so it's a $300,000 victory here for Ramirez. The 28-year-old slashed .300/.343/.404 with six home runs and three stolen bases in 120 games played last season. He projects to hit in the heart of the Rays' batting order this year.

FEBRUARY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Tuesday's lineup Ramirez will sit Tuesday against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Ramirez has been in a small slump recently, going hitless in five of his last six games. Isaac Paredes will get the nod at first base in his absence.

OCTOBER 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup Ramirez will sit Saturday against the Astros, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Ramirez hits the bench after the Rays clinched a playoff spot Friday. Ji-Man Choi will start at first base, while Wander Franco rests his legs as the designated hitter.

OCTOBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Another strong performance Ramirez went 2-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and a run scored Tuesday against the Guardians.

Impact Ramirez drove in the game-winning runs with a double in the 11th inning and the performance extended his hitting streak to a modest five games. In that span, he has gone 8-for-18 with three RBI and four runs scored. Ramirez has enjoyed an excellent season, highlighted by a career-high 57 RBI while also maintaining a career-best .314 average across 410 plate appearances.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Adds three more hits to ledger Ramirez went 3-for-4 in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Blue Jays.

Impact Ramirez has piled up nine hits over his last six games to lift his season average to .313 over 405 plate appearances. The 28-year-old isn't offering much else from a fantasy perspective (six home runs, three stolen bases, 54 RBI and 44 runs), but the excellent average alone makes him worth rostering for managers who need help in that category.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Saturday's lineup Ramirez will sit Saturday against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Ramirez hits the bench for the second time in three games despite the fact that he scored three runs in Friday's 10-6 win. His .765 OPS on the season remains the best of his four-year career, though he owns a .467 OPS over his last eight contests.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Scores three runs Ramirez went 1-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored Friday against the Blue Jays.

Impact Ramirez benefitted from a big game by Randy Arozarena and scored multiple runs in a game for the first time since July 3. Ramirez has struggled across 18 games in September, as he's hitting only .194 with five runs scored and six RBI across 18 games.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gets breather Thursday Ramirez isn't starting Thursday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Ramirez started the last five games and went 4-for-20 with two doubles and five strikeouts. Ji-Man Choi will take over at first base and bat eighth Thursday.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out of Friday's lineup Ramirez is not in Friday's lineup against the Rangers.

Impact He will surprisingly take a seat even with a lefty (Martin Perez) on the hill for the opposition. Ramirez is hitting .195 with one home run, 11 strikeouts and two walks in 11 games this month. Christian Bethancourt will start at first base and hit sixth.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE