Erasmo José Ramírez Olivera (born May 2, 1990) is a Nicaraguan professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2012 with the Seattle Mariners, and has also played for the Rays, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Washington Nationals. Listed at  and , he both throws and bats right-handed. He represents the Nicaraguan national team in international competition.

Early years
At the age of 12, Ramírez left his home in Nicaragua to attend school in San Salvador, El Salvador. The school which he attended, Fundación Educando a un Salvadoreño, was aimed at helping baseball and soccer athletes training in their respective sports, while also offering academic support. From there, Ramírez was discovered by Jorge Bahaia, who introduced him to Seattle Mariners scouts Ubaldo Heredia and Bob Engle. Engle also signed players José López, Ryan Rowland-Smith, and Carlos Triunfel.

Professional career

Seattle Mariners
On September 1, 2007, Ramírez officially signed with Seattle Mariners. Ramírez began his professional baseball career in 2008 with the rookie-level VSL Mariners of the Venezuelan Summer League. That season, he compiled a 4–1 record with a 2.86 earned run average (ERA), one complete game, and 46 strikeouts in 13 games, 11 starts. In 2009, Ramírez continued playing with the VSL Mariners. Before the season, the Seattle Mariners minor league director Pedro Grifol compared Ramírez to Major League Baseball pitcher Doug Fister. That season, Ramírez compiled an 11–1 record with a 0.51 ERA, and 80 strikeouts in 14 games, 13 starts. He led the Venezuelan Summer League in wins, ERA, innings pitched (88), and strikeouts. After the season, the Seattle Mariners named Ramírez as the pitcher of the year in their minor league organization. He participated in the Mariners instructional league in Arizona after the 2009 season.

Ramírez spent the early part of the 2010 season in extended spring training with the Seattle Mariners. He was assigned to the Class-A Clinton LumberKings in early-April. On the season, Ramírez was both a Midwest League mid-season all-star and a post-season all-star. He went 10–4 with a 2.97 ERA, one complete game, one save, and 117 strikeouts in 26 games, 23 starts with Clinton.

After the season, Ramírez was named the LumberKings Pitcher of the Year. At the end of the year, Erasmo was awarded in Nicaragua Athlete of the Year by the ACDN (Nicaraguan Association of Sport Journalists) over Everth Cabrera.

In 2013, Ramírez was going to join the Mariners starting roster before the start of the regular season before injuring his triceps. He eventually spent time in Class AAA before making his debut of the season with the Mariners on July 11 against the Boston Red Sox, but allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 innings. The following day, Ramírez was sent down to the Everett AquaSox in order to allow him to stay on a regular rotation during the Major League All-Star break, and started July 17's game against the Vancouver Canadians, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out ten in 5 1/3 innings as the AquaSox won 7-6.

Tampa Bay Rays
On March 31, 2015, Ramírez was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for Mike Montgomery. Ramírez struggled in his first month with the Rays, posting an 0-1 record with a 12.71 ERA. But, when he came back in mid-May from the Durham Bulls he was better for the rotation and team, putting up great numbers for the rest of the season. On September 14 against the New York Yankees he went 7 hitless innings. Ramírez finished the season 11-5 with a 3.75 ERA in 163 innings pitched.

In 2016, Ramírez made a more permanent switch to the bullpen, specifically in long relief situations. Ramírez ended the season making appearances in 64 games, throwing 90 innings posting a 3.77 ERA.

In 2017, Ramírez started as an important reliever out of the bullpen, but when struggling youngster Blake Snell was demoted, Ramírez was put in the starting rotation. On May 28, Ramírez was forced to come in and get a save in a fifteen inning affair with the Minnesota Twins. On May 29, Ramírez became the first pitcher since Dennis Martinez, Ramírez's childhood idol, to start the next game before receiving a save.

Seattle Mariners (second stint)
On July 28, 2017, the Rays traded Ramírez back to the Seattle Mariners for Steve Cishek. On August 23, Ramírez went 2-for-3 at the plate in a game against the Atlanta Braves, recording his first MLB hit and RBI. On May 1, 2018, he was placed on the disabled list. He ended the season sporting a career worst 6.50 ERA in 10 starts. Nevertheless, on October 29, 2018, Ramírez was selected to play in the 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series.

In November 2018, Ramírez elected to become a free agent after clearing waivers and being outrighted off the Mariner's 40-man roster.

Boston Red Sox
On December 18, 2018, Ramírez signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. He started the 2019 season with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. On April 16, his contract was selected by Boston, and he made his Red Sox debut the same day, allowing four runs in three innings of relief during an 8–0 loss to the Yankees in New York. He was designated for assignment on April 19, and sent outright back to Pawtucket on April 21. With Pawtucket during the 2019 season, Ramírez was 6–8 with a 4.74 ERA and 95 strikeouts in  innings. He elected free agency on October 1.

New York Mets
On January 26, 2020, Ramírez signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets. He was called up to the Mets on September 4, 2020. Ramírez pitched in 6 games in 2020, notching a 0.63 ERA and 9 strikeouts over 14.1 innings pitched. Ramírez became a free agent on October 28, 2020.

Detroit Tigers
On January 19, 2021, Ramírez signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers, with an invitation to spring training. On May 7, 2021, Ramírez was selected to the active roster. Ramírez appeared in 17 games for the Tigers, recording a 1-1 record with a 5.74 ERA with 20 strikeouts. On August 27, 2021, Ramírez was designated for assignment by the Tigers. On August 28, he was released by the Tigers.

Washington Nationals
On March 13, 2022, Ramírez signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. Ramírez had a 4-2 record and a 2.92 ERA for the Nationals in 2022, starting two games and appearing in relief in 58 games. 

On December 21, 2022, Ramírez signed a contract worth $1 million for the 2023 season with up to $1 million available in performance bonuses. In 23 appearances for Washington, Ramírez struggled to a 6.33 ERA with only 13 strikeouts in 27.0 innings pitched. On June 7, 2023, Ramírez was designated for assignment by Washington after Cory Abbott was recalled from Triple–A. He cleared waivers and was released on June 9.

Tampa Bay Rays (second stint)
On June 12, 2023, Ramírez signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays organization and was assigned to the Triple–A Durham Bulls. His contract was selected to the 40man roster on July 30.

International career
Ramírez played for the Nicaraguan national baseball team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualification Tournament. He also participated with the Nicaraguan team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the country's first ever appearance at a WBC tournament. In the tournament, he pitched to a 2.45 ERA over 3.2 innings. Ramírez gave up several RBI singles against Puerto Rico, though all but one of the runners were inherited. He then started Nicaragua's final game against Nicaragua, pitching three scoreless innings, outlasting Eduardo Rodriguez and striking out Ronald Acuña Jr.

References

External links

1990 births
Living people
Arkansas Travelers players
Boston Red Sox players
Cardenales de Lara players
Nicaraguan expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
Detroit Tigers players
Clinton LumberKings players
Everett AquaSox players
High Desert Mavericks players
Jackson Generals (Southern League) players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Major League Baseball players from Nicaragua
Modesto Nuts players
New York Mets players
Nicaraguan expatriate baseball players in the United States
Pawtucket Red Sox players
People from Rivas Department
Rochester Red Wings players
Seattle Mariners players
Tacoma Rainiers players
Tampa Bay Rays players
Venezuelan Summer League Mariners players
Washington Nationals players
2023 World Baseball Classic players