Kempsville grad rising fast as baseball pitcher

Neil Ramirez began this season in South Carolina, pitching for high Class-A Myrtle Beach. The major leagues seemed far, far away.

"I was just hoping to get to Double-A by the end of the season," the former Kempsville High standout said.

Less than three months later, Ramirez is in Texas, pitching for Triple-A Round Rock. And a promotion to help the Texas Rangers before the season ends is a distinct possibility.

"I never doubted my ability to pitch at this level," said Ramirez, the 44th overall pick in the 2007 Major League draft. "But it has happened faster than I expected."

Ramirez's rise began with a bit of luck after he pitched 4? scoreless innings for Myrtle Beach on April 8.

On April 13, Round Rock needed a pitcher. It was Ramirez's day to throw, so he got what was supposed to be a one-game promotion.

"I wasn't too nervous," the right-hander said. "I get a little jittery every time I pitch, but I tried to treat it like any other start."

Ramirez threw six shutout innings against Omaha, allowing three hits.

He earned another start with Round Rock. On April 19 at Oklahoma City, he allowed one unearned run in five innings, allowing two hits. Rangers officials decided he would stay with Round Rock.

"He showed the ability to work ahead and keep the ball down," Round Rock pitching coach Terry Clark said. "At this level that gives you the chance to get guys out."

The first few seasons of Ramirez's pro career were a lot more frustrating than that early success at Round Rock. After going 1-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 2008 with short-season Class-A Spokane (Wash.), he went 3-6 with a 4.75 ERA with low Class-A Hickory (N.C.) in 2009.

That wasn't good enough to earn a promotion to Myrtle Beach. And Ramirez again failed to shine in 2010, going 10-8 with a 4.43 ERA.

"It was frustrating," Ramirez said. "But failure can be a good thing sometimes, because it's a part of life, and you have to learn from it."

Ramirez has learned that his stuff - his fastball reaches the mid-90s - is good enough to get hitters out when he trusts it.

During his first two minor league seasons, Ramirez walked 70 batters in 110? innings. He made strides in 2010, walking 37 in 140? innings. He has continued to throw strikes this season, walking 32 in 68? innings against more discerning hitters.

"He's got great poise," Clark said. "You don't know when he's pitching good or pitching bad. He's got a great mound presence, and you don't get that often with a young kid."

That Ramirez, who turned 22 on May 25, is succeeding is no surprise to Maury coach Paul Shows, who was at Kempsville when Ramirez dominated there.

"He was a kid with pro-caliber talent who worked like he was fighting to make the JV team," Shows said.

This season hasn't been all smooth sailing for Ramirez. After finishing April with a 1.69 ERA for Round Rock, he posted a 5.04 ERA in May, when he walked 13 in 25 innings.

"I wasn't trusting my stuff," Ramirez said. "I had to get back to attacking both sides of the plate."

His first start in June, Ramirez allowed two runs in six innings against Albuquerque, striking out nine and walking none.

Through Monday, his 3.80 ERA ranked fourth in the Pacific Coast League. His 76 strikeouts were ninth, despite the fact that he's been on the disabled list since July 1 with what is considered a non-serious bout with a tired arm.

That success is gaining Ramirez national acclaim. In May, Sports Illustrated named him 1 of 5 minor leaguers with a chance to contribute in the majors this season.

"I take it as a blessing," Ramirez said of the attention. "But I try not to buy into it."