When Heliot Ramos, the Giants' first-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, turned a pitch that came in at 82 miles per hour into a 437-foot shot with an exit velocity of 110 miles per hour on July 20, Hector Borg instantly saw another slugger with tantalizing raw power.
"That homer reminded me of [Yoenis] Cespedes," said Borg, who manages Ramos in the Arizona Rookie League, to William Boor of MLB.com. "I remember, I was coaching third base for the Toros [del Este], Cespedes played for Aguilas [Cibaenas] and I remember, Cespedes, he hit it over the [back wall] in left field in Santiago.
"And when I saw Heliot hit that ball, right away I went, 'Man that reminds me of Cespedes' homer in the Dominican.'"
Ramos doesn't turn 18 years old until Sept. 7, but is already showing his immense potential that brings Cespedes comparisons. Through his first 21 games of pro ball, Ramos is slashing .374/.412/.670 with three home runs and 16 RBI. He just snapped a 16-game hitting streak on Tuesday.
Through Aug. 1, Ramos ranks third in batting average, fifth in hits (34), tied for second in triples (5), third in slugging percentage, and ninth in on-base percentage amongst the rest of the Arizona Rookie League.
Ramos, ranked as the Giants' No. 4 prospect by Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, is taller than Cespedes at 6-foot-2 and leaner at 185 pounds. The teenager still has room to grow and the natural strength clearly sticks out to Borg as a Cespedes-type player down the road.
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"They have the same type of body, strong body, same type of player," Borg said. "I know Cespedes is more of a free swinger. I believe Heliot can be more solid, but when you hit a 400-plus homer like that at 17 years old, there's something special there."
Not only does Ramos remind his manager of the All-Star slugger, Borg believes Ramos is the best Puerto Rican player the Giants have had in the past 15 years, since he joined the organization.
"I believe Heliot Ramos is the best Puerto Rican player that we have had in the last 15 years in the United States," Borg said. "I've been in this organization 15 years total as a player, coach, manager and I don't even hesitate to say that, I've been in the organization long enough."
