The SF Giants activated outfielder Heliot Ramos ( Giants Top 30 Prospect ) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday. In a corresponding move, they placed hard-throwing right-handed reliever Cole Waites on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow sprain.
Ramos had already been playing at Triple-A but had been doing so on a minor-league rehab assignment while on the IL. He had exhausted his 20-day rehab window and had to be reinstated to the 40-man roster or be designated for assignment.
Waites became the first player drafted by the Giants under president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi to reach the majors with the team last season. A hard-throwing righty, he recorded a 3.18 ERA with four strikeouts and four walks in 5.2 innings pitched (seven appearances) in the majors last season.
Waites was expected to compete for a spot on the Giants' Opening Day roster this season, but a strained oblique early in spring training prevented him from making a strong push. He has seemed unable to regain his previous form since the injury. In a short stint with the Giants, Waites allowed five runs (four earned) across 2.1 innings pitched this season. At Triple-A, he has not done much better, posting a 6.16 ERA with 32 strikeouts and 27 walks in 30.2 innings pitched (32 appearances).
Ramos has been scorching hot since returning from his injury, winning the Pacific Coast League Player of the Week prior to the All-Star break. Ramos has slowly been elevating the ball more consistently this season and may be finally living up to the expectations that came with being a first-round pick and top prospect. Ramos is hitting .302/.356/.547 this season at Triple-A with six doubles, a triple, and six home runs in 28 games.
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