Elizardo Ramirez

Elizardo Ramirez de Palma

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut May 25, 2004
• Final Game June 4, 2008
• Born January 28, 1983 in Villa Mella, Distrito Nacional, D.R.

BR page

Biographical Information

Elizardo "EZ" Ramirez was signed by scout Wil Tejada for the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in July 1999. He spent 2000-2001 with the DSL Phillies. At age 19, Ramirez came stateside with the GCL Phillies, turning in 73 strikeouts and only 2 walks over 73 1/3 innings in 11 starts. Ramirez made his MLB debut on May 25, 2004 pitching against the New York Mets. Ramirez retired the only three batters he faced and threw ten of his first thirteen pitches for strikes. Ramirez was traded to the Cincinnati Reds on August 11th completing a deal which sent Cory Lidle to the Phillies.

In Ramirez' brief career he showed flashes of brilliance and baffling moments when he could hardly retire a batter. For example, on June 14, 2006 against the Milwaukee Brewers, Ramirez struck out 10 batters in 8 innings (his single-game strikeout high). On July 27th of that same season, Ramirez recorded 7 consecutive outs by strikeout against the Houston Astros (the most for a Reds pitcher since John Smiley struck out seven in a row on August 27, 1996). Less than a month later, on August 7th, Ramirez allowed 5 runs on the first 11 pitches he threw in the 1st inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ramirez struggled keeping healthy and spent time on the disabled list with problems with his knee and right shoulder. Following the 2007 season, Ramirez became a minor league free agent.