Texas Tech University Athletics
Awards No Match For Ramos
February 20, 2007 | Baseball
Feb. 20, 2007
By Matt Dowdy, Texas Tech Media Relations
With 21 runs being scored by the Texas Tech offense against Dallas Baptist in game one of the Midland College Classic last Friday, the performance of sophomore pitcher AJ Ramos might seem easy to overlook. In his opinion, though, he was just simply "doing his job."
The Lubbock Estacado product pitched a career-high eight shutout innings striking out yet again a career-high nine batters while only allowing three hits and one walk.
"I think I did pretty good," Ramos said. "I just focused on getting ahead early and the defense backed me up. It helps a lot when you get four runs in the first inning, too."
The most Ramos had previously pitched was seven innings last season again UNC Asheville. His nine strikeouts doubles his prior career-high of four he set three times last year against Texas A&M, Baylor, and Kansas.
Following each collegiate baseball season, it is normal for most players to take part in a summer baseball league. In order to be prepared for this season, however, Ramos decided to take a different route and rest.
"My arm really got to rest and now my velocity is back where it was in high school," he said. "Going from fall ball, to a spring league, then to summer baseball every year growing up really wears you down. Now, my arm is rested and my mechanics are better."
Ramos' strikeout numbers shouldn't come as a surprise, either. In high school, he averaged 14.6 strikeouts per-seven innings. He fanned 190 batters his senior season alone.
Throughout his four years at Lubbock Estacado, Ramos garnered numerous All-City and All-South Plains selections along with two All-State selections, and the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Pitcher of the Year in 2004. Following a stellar senior season where he went 15-2 with a 1.16 ERA, he received the TSWA Class 4A Player of the Year award.
The transition from high school to the Division I level in any sport is difficult. In baseball, it's a major change. Instead of having at least one easy out in the bottom of the order, every batter has the potential to cause damage.
According to Ramos, the biggest adjustment is consistently hitting his spot low in the zone.
"You have to hit your spots every time now," he said. "In high school, you could leave your fastball high and inside and blow it past the guy. You could throw your curve ball in the dirt, and the guy would swing. Now, they watch those pitches."
Following his senior season at Estacado, Ramos seemed destined to pitch for New Mexico Junior College in 2006. Late in the spring recruiting period, however, Tech baseball coach Larry Hays pursued Ramos and signed him to a letter of intent.
Last spring, Ramos became the first Red Raider true freshman to start a Big 12 Conference game when he threw five innings in a 3-4 loss to Texas.
"That just gave me a lot of confidence and also showed the coaches had confidence in me and trusted me to be able to get out of jams," he said.
Through the Midland College Classic last weekend, Ramos has a 2-1 record with a 1.26 ERA in 14.1 innings. His two wins this season already match his season total from last year.
Even with his strong performance against Dallas Baptist, Ramos says he is simply looking forward to his next outing this weekend against Northern Illinois.
"I am never satisfied," he said. "I need to keep doing my job and keep winning. The most important thing is to always get the win."
