Jose Ramirez was already a long-shot to join the Braves’ bullpen. That far-fetched proposition has been eliminated.
Ramirez will be shut down for the rest of the season, manager Brian Snitker confirmed Monday. The righty’s rehab outing with Single-A Rome didn’t go well: He allowed four runs on four hits while recording only one out in Rome’s 6-0 elimination loss.
It’s easy to forget how important Ramirez was to the 2017 bullpen. He had a 3.19 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 62 innings. He struggled to open 2018, but pitched three consecutive scoreless outings before two poor ones – including the April 14 disaster in Chicago, when frigid conditions contributed to the bullpen botching a 10-2 lead - that led to the disabled list.
Ramirez was working toward a return before suffering an impingement in his throwing shoulder in June, which shut him down for over two months. His attention is now turned to 2019.
“He ended the year throwing but I think he’ll probably be shut down,” Snitker said. “We got him back healthy and he can go throw winter ball and all that.”
