A ghost of past trades haunted the New York Yankees in Miami. He dons a Marlins uniform but is a product of the Yankees’ own system. Over two great nights, that young player single-handedly defeated his former team. On Friday, his energy produced the game winner in a wild 13-12 victory. Then on Saturday, he put on a true payback performance. He hit two monumental solo home runs against the Yankees. Those home runs were the only scoring in a shocking 2-0 Marlins win, which sealed the series.
This weekend’s hero arrived in Miami as part of a traditional baseball trade. Last summer, on July 27, to be precise, the Yankees went all in. They acquired star infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the Marlins as they desperately needed his dynamic bat for a World Series push. In return, they sent three prospects to Florida. The package included infielders Jared Serna, Abrahan Ramirez, and a promising young catcher: Agustin Ramirez, the man now tormenting his old club.
Ramirez isn’t just a weekend player; he is on his way to stardom. This season for the Marlins, he has already hit 17 home runs. Also, the young catcher has put up very impressive numbers, driving in 48 runs and 50 RBIs. Manager Clayton McCullough sees no end to what his star is going to achieve, saying, “We’ve seen Gus do some really incredible things… We believe his offensive ceiling is not close yet. We’re going to continue to see a better version of him as he gets more at-bats.”
Yankees starter Cam Schlittler had a bird’s-eye view of the home run show. He could only watch as his two pitches went into the seats. Schlitter said he just made errors at the hands of a great fastball hitter. “First time through, 3-1 count, tried to get the fastball up and in, missed middle with it,” Schlittler explained, via Dave Blezow. “Second time through, I think I attacked him well with the sinker in. Just tried to get the sweeper away, and he was still able to pull it.”
In his mind, Ramirez holds no ill will towards the Yankees. For him, it was a ticket to the big leagues. “I was mostly happy,” he said via an interpreter. He described how people told him he was going to get more opportunities with the Marlins. “I want to be a star, and I want to have a long career in MLB,” he declared confidently after his two-homer game.
Credit: Agustín Ramírez Instagram
This all didn’t happen in one day. Ramirez had to go through a lot of patience and dedication, and work on his skills over time. MLB Pipeline’s scouting report said Ramirez lacks agility and soft hands. During his days with catching coach Joe Singley at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex in November, he worked on that. “I think he’s super talented, and there’s a lot of low hanging fruit there… Really hopeful that he could have a very long, nice Major League career as a catcher,” said Singley, who was also his gym training partner during the time.
Even the opposing manager recognizes the talent the Yankees let go. “He was a coveted guy,” Boone admitted. “It’s big-time power. He put a charge into a couple balls today.” Ramírez’s recent heroics raise a familiar yet unsettling thought in the realm of baseball: has a contender sacrificed a potential superstar for short-term help?
The full price of the trade
The Jazz Chisholm Jr. trade was never just about Agustín Ramírez. The Marlins also received two other intriguing infield prospects from the Yankees. Jared Serna is a versatile player known for his steady defense and surprising hits. He is currently continuing his development at the challenging Double-A level. The other piece is the young Abrahan Ramirez, a high-contact lottery ticket. Playing at Single-A Jupiter, his advanced approach truly shines. He boasts an exceptional .348 on-base percentage, driven by a high walk rate.
History is filled with examples of such trades. The Atlanta Braves once sent out a raw minor league pitcher to Detroit for veteran Doyle Alexander. That young pitcher was Hall of Famer John Smoltz. Also, we see the case of the Chicago White Sox, where they got pitcher James Shields from San Diego. They gave up a 17-year-old shortstop who had never played a pro game. That boy was Fernando Tatis Jr., who grew to become a global superstar. Also, the Astros got Yordan Alvarez for a reliever, who is now one of the most feared hitters in the entire league.
Meanwhile, Chisholm Jr. has been a great addition to the Yankees. He is not the cause of this trade’s present poor perception. This season, he has put up 18 home runs and stolen 14 bases for New York. What he brings to the table in terms of power and speed is exactly what the Yankees were looking for. He provides much-needed balance as a left-handed power bat in their lineup. Chisholm is a very valuable, All-Star caliber player who has helped the Yankees win many games.
So, who really came out on top in this trade? The Yankees got the star they wanted, and the Marlins, on the other hand, may have landed a future franchise cornerstone. The story is still being written with every swing of the bat.
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