Wilson Ramos Called Up To Catch for Minnesota Twins

Whether it’s for one day, one week, or one month, it’s never easy to be the player that replaces the face of a franchise.

That's something that Minnesota Twins catching prospect Wilson Ramos is going to find out real fast, as he made his MLB debut Sunday in place of injured backstop Joe Mauer.

The Twins called up Ramos before Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Indians  because Mauer is week-to-week with a bruised heel. Mauer hurt his left heel trying to beat out a throw to first on Friday night.

If Mauer is out for an extended period of time, it will be Ramos who will be doing the catching for the Twins. Ramos already endeared himself to Twins fans on Sunday by going 4-for-5 with a double and a run scored.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect about Ramos’ debut was the way he handled Francisco Liriano. He scooped up every Liriano slider in the dirt and was able to guide Liriano through some tough spots in the game.

Here are some other facts about Ramos:

Age: 22

Bats: right

Throws: right

College: none, went to U.E. Santa Ines High School in Venezuela

Drafted: none, signed as an amateur free agent with the Twins in 2008

Minor League Stats

2006 Rookie: .286 with three home runs, a .339 OBP, and a .774 OPS in 46 games

2007 Single A: .291 with eight home runs, a .345 OBP, and a .783 OPS in 73 games

2008 High Single A: .288 with 13 home runs, a .346 OBP, and a .780 OPS in 126 games

2009 Rookie and Double-A: .317 with seven home runs, a .339 OBP, and a .835 OPS in 59 games

2010 Triple-A: .179 with three home runs, a .214 OBP, and a .543 OPS in 16 games

ESPN's Keith Law Ranking and Analysis

Ranking: No. 42 out of 100 best prospects in baseball in 2010.

Analysis: “Ramos has had trouble staying healthy, but when he plays he hits, and he plays a premium position at which bats like his are hard to find. He missed time in 2009 with a broken finger and a partially torn hamstring, which makes his .317/.341/.454 line in 54 games at Double-A even more impressive.

"Ramos is big, taller than his listed 6-foot height, and his large frame suggests he might outgrow the position. But right now he throws extremely well (he’s nailed 43 percent of would-be base stealers in the past two years) and his receiving is adequate. He does need to work on the intangible aspects of catching, like handling a staff, something the Twins value very highly in their catchers.

"At the plate, he has strong hands and very good hand-eye coordination, with a hard, line-drive-oriented swing; he’s also impatient, drawing just six walks in his abbreviated 2009 season, and will have to up his patience or hit well above .300 if he ever has to move out from behind the dish. Of course, the position Ramos plays is rather well filled right now in Minnesota, and a contract extension for Joe Mauer would probably make Ramos one of the most valuable prospects on the trading block this season.”