Ramirez picks up four-inning save in 2013 debut

At long last, RHP Jose Ramirez was activated off the DL and added to the Double-A Trenton roster according to Mike Ashmore. He is on a 75-pitch limit for the time being and he will join the rotation the next time through. Pitching coach Tommy Phelps said the team could go to a six-man rotation to accommodate him — there’s no obvious candidate to be taken out of the roster unless they move LHP Francisco Rondon back to the bullpen — but they’ll figure it out. LHP Jeremy Bleich was put on the DL with a sore left knee to clear a roster spot.

In other news, RHP Rafael DePaula ranked tenth on this week’s Prospect Hot Sheet. It’s a little early to start promoting people, but DePaula is a unique case because of his visa issues and all that. I can’t imagine he’ll be with Low-A Charleston much longer.

Triple-A Scranton (3-2 win over Columbus)

• 2B Corban Joseph: 0-4, 2 K — three hits in his last 21 at-bats (.143)
• CF Melky Mesa: 1-4, 1 R
• RF Zoilo Almonte: 2-4, 1 K, 1 E (fielding) — came into the game in a 5-for-31 slump (.161)
• RHP Brett Marshall: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, 1 WP, 6/3 GB/FB — 56 of 100 pitches were strikes, which I think makes him the first minor leaguer to hit the century mark this season … four or more walks in three of his four starts this season, which is not good

Double-A Trenton (6-3 win over Portland)

• LF Ramon Flores: 1-3, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 SB — 14 hits in his last 42 at-bats (.333) with seven walks and six strikeouts
• RF Tyler Austin: 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K — nine hits in his last 25 at-bats (.360) with ten walks and seven strikeouts
• C J.R. Murphy: 3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K — had been a little 1-for-14 rut (.071) since the three-homer game
• CF Slade Heathcott: 0-4, 1 K, 1 SB — real rough start to his Double-A career
• LHP Nik Turley: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 1 HB, 6/3 GB/FB — 57 of 85 pitches were strikes (67%)
• RHP Jose Ramirez: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 1/1 GB/FB — 40 of 63 pitches were strikes (63%) … he hit 114 on the stadium gun and 96 in reality

High-A Tampa (9-4 loss to Clearwater)

• CF Mason Williams: 0-4, 1 BB, 1 K — they were off yesterday, so he didn’t miss any games following the DUI arrest
• 2B Rob Refsnyder: 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 SB, 1 E (missed catch) — 31-for-86 (.360) with 13 walks and 14 strikeouts in 21 total games this year
• LF Ben Gamel: 0-4, 1 BB, 2 K
• C Gary Sanchez: 1-4, 1 R
• RHP Bryan Mitchell: 4.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HB, 7/1 GB/FB — first real dud outing of the season

Low-A Charleston (5-1 win over Kannapolis)

• CF Jake Cave: 2-5, 1 R, 2 K — 6-for-17 (.353) since joining the team
• SS Cito Culver: 1-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB — six hits in his last 15 at-bats (.400)
• 1B Greg Bird: 0-3, 1 RBI, 2 K
• 3B Dante Bichette Jr.: 2-4, 2 RBI, 1 K
• LF Taylor Dugas: 2-3, 1 BB, 1 SB — 12 walks and four strikeouts this year, 63 walks and 39 strikeouts since signing last year
• RHP Cesar Vargas: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 4/3 GB/FB — 37 of 64 pitches were strikes (58%)