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Say hey, baseball: After seven years in the minors, Ramon Flores gets a big (league) break
Sunday morning’s baseball includes Ramon Flores’ MLB debut, a flooded Minute Maid Park and the longest home run in Citi Field history. Subscribe for your daily Say Hey!
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
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Ramon Flores may be a newly-minted major leaguer, but he’s no spring chicken. The Yankees brought up the 23-year-old outfielder on Friday to prop up an ailing outfield, one that’s lost both Jacoby Ellsbury and Slade Heathcott to the disabled list since mid-May. Flores was penciled into his first big league lineup Saturday afternoon during the Yankees’ 5-3 victory in Oakland, a win that was fashioned without the help of the prospect’s bat. The Venezuelan native followed in the footsteps of Cubs prospect Kris Bryant, going 0-for-4 at the plate and compensating with a pair of spectacular defensive plays.
Flores’ path to the majors has been longer than most. The left fielder got his start in professional baseball with the Yankees’ Dominican League squad back in 2009; since then, his career has stagnated at the Triple-A level with a .360 on-base percentage, a discerning eye at the plate and a modicum of power. Despite a brief setback with a broken ankle in 2014, Flores’ strength lies in his defense and stability. “He is used to being an every-day player, get his feet wet and see if he can be productive,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi told the press on Friday.
No matter how acrobatic Flores’ outfield endeavors, however, the prospect has a short shelf life this season. He’ll see the inside of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders’ ballpark as soon as Ellsbury and Heathcott complete their respective rehab periods, though NJ.com speculated that the young fielder could see another call-up in September. Until then, it’s up to Flores to prove his mettle and, in doing so, ensure that his visit to the major leagues paves the way for a more lasting arrangement.
- Minute Maid Park sustained apocalypse-like levels of flooding on Saturday afternoon, prompting hundreds of fans to flee as water erupted from the storm drains, poked holes in the stadium roof and soaked the concourse in three inches of rainwater. The only thing it didn’t wash away was the final score: 3-0 in the Astros’ favor.
- Giancarlo Stanton is the proud new owner of the longest home run ever hit at Citi Field, measuring 466 feet over the left field fence. The previous owner, coincidentally, was also Stanton, with a 465-foot bomb levied against the Mets’ Mike Pelfrey back in 2010.
- The Brewers lost outfielder Khris Davis to the disabled list Saturday when the outfielder went down swinging in the first inning with a torn meniscus in his right knee.
- Two months into the season, here’s how the Yankees’ offseason acquisitions are faring in the Big Apple.
- If the Cubs decide to target Cole Hamels this summer, they’ll have to get through Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. first.
- Freddie Galvis hung a Gold Glove play on a force out Saturday afternoon, flipping the ball behind his back to catch Rafael Ynoa at second base.
- Stephen Strasburg has deeper issues than neck tightness, and it might take more than a DL stint to get him back on track.
- After rumors of Grant Balfour’s retirement cropped up on Thursday, the 37-year-old closer announced that he’s considering other major-league options… none of which include hanging up his cleats.
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