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A guest of MLB Network Radio on Monday, Miami Marlins hitting coach Eduardo Perez admitted to having some concerns about how the position change and shoulder surgery will impact Hanley Ramirez’s bat next season. Perez, like manager Ozzie Guillen said earlier this offseason, believes playing a less demanding position should facilitate Ramirez having a bounce back year.
“I think everybody has his concerns,” Perez told hosts Kevin Kennedy and Jim Duquette. “The good thing is it’s not like he’s going from third base to shortstop or to a higher level, difficult position. Going to third base we’re hoping it’ll keep his legs fresh…There’s a lot more diving going on with a lot more force at shortstop than third. Third base is a step and a dive, which you don’t really feel it as much. He’s got all the athletic ability to be successful. Now internally, can he handle that change of position for the better of the team and even for the better of his health and better of his well-being and longevity of his career? We’re not going to know until spring training arrives.
“Right now, yes, we can say he’s approved of the move, but we really won’t know how that will affect him, defensively, but most importantly offensively. Everybody two years ago was talking about Hanley Ramirez being the best offensive player, could be one of the best offensive players in the game all-around.”
Perez also is curious to see how Ramirez’s shoulder will respond in live competition.
“Everybody talks about, well, he’s hitting, he’s swinging and I’m really happy he’s doing that being the hitting coach of the Marlins, but at the same time what I worry about is not just the BP fastball, but what about in-game situations, that check swing?” Perez said. “That’s where a lot of strength goes into holding on to your swing. Or when you get fooled on that slider down and away, it’s all shoulder there. That’s the big test. That’s the one where Hanley is going to have to be very careful.”
Perez said Ramirez’s shoulder trouble made the high, one-handed finish to his swing problematic. What Perez wants Ramirez to avoid is having to make a major adjustment because of his shoulder issues.
“That’s one thing I don’t want Hanley to do is completely change his swing,” Perez said. “Last year, before he got hurt, he was on a roll. We had him right where we wanted to have him offensively and with the right mindset. His average was going up…and all of a sudden he gets injured. Hopefully that shoulder will be strong enough to make sure he can finish high and complete his swing and be as aggressive as he has been throughout his career.”
Perez also addressed how he’ll approach building a relationship with Jose Reyes.
“The beauty about Jose Reyes is he’s the complete package offensively,” Perez said. “Being that switch hitter, creating havoc on the bases, and he knows his role. He knows his job and it’s going to be a pleasure working with a guy who understands who he is at the plate and also in the ballpark. He knows how to make a team better. What we’re going to need from Jose, bottom line, is presence. He’s got that infectious presence of wanting to play, wanting to hustle, and that will carry over on the rest of the guys.
“This is a plus-plus situation for us. A lot of people say there’s going to be a lot of chaos. I don’t think so. I think having Jose Reyes there offensively is going to make my job a lot easier in many ways. He understands when he needs to bunt, he’ll bunt. He understands that when he needs to get on base, he’ll get on base. He understands when he needs that triple or that double, he’ll do so. Not only is he a good hitter, he’s a very good baserunner and an aggressive baserunner. That’s what we want out of Jose to carry over for the rest of the guys on the team.”
“I think everybody has his concerns,” Perez told hosts Kevin Kennedy and Jim Duquette. “The good thing is it’s not like he’s going from third base to shortstop or to a higher level, difficult position. Going to third base we’re hoping it’ll keep his legs fresh…There’s a lot more diving going on with a lot more force at shortstop than third. Third base is a step and a dive, which you don’t really feel it as much. He’s got all the athletic ability to be successful. Now internally, can he handle that change of position for the better of the team and even for the better of his health and better of his well-being and longevity of his career? We’re not going to know until spring training arrives.
“Right now, yes, we can say he’s approved of the move, but we really won’t know how that will affect him, defensively, but most importantly offensively. Everybody two years ago was talking about Hanley Ramirez being the best offensive player, could be one of the best offensive players in the game all-around.”
Perez also is curious to see how Ramirez’s shoulder will respond in live competition.
“Everybody talks about, well, he’s hitting, he’s swinging and I’m really happy he’s doing that being the hitting coach of the Marlins, but at the same time what I worry about is not just the BP fastball, but what about in-game situations, that check swing?” Perez said. “That’s where a lot of strength goes into holding on to your swing. Or when you get fooled on that slider down and away, it’s all shoulder there. That’s the big test. That’s the one where Hanley is going to have to be very careful.”
Perez said Ramirez’s shoulder trouble made the high, one-handed finish to his swing problematic. What Perez wants Ramirez to avoid is having to make a major adjustment because of his shoulder issues.
“That’s one thing I don’t want Hanley to do is completely change his swing,” Perez said. “Last year, before he got hurt, he was on a roll. We had him right where we wanted to have him offensively and with the right mindset. His average was going up…and all of a sudden he gets injured. Hopefully that shoulder will be strong enough to make sure he can finish high and complete his swing and be as aggressive as he has been throughout his career.”
Perez also addressed how he’ll approach building a relationship with Jose Reyes.
“The beauty about Jose Reyes is he’s the complete package offensively,” Perez said. “Being that switch hitter, creating havoc on the bases, and he knows his role. He knows his job and it’s going to be a pleasure working with a guy who understands who he is at the plate and also in the ballpark. He knows how to make a team better. What we’re going to need from Jose, bottom line, is presence. He’s got that infectious presence of wanting to play, wanting to hustle, and that will carry over on the rest of the guys.
“This is a plus-plus situation for us. A lot of people say there’s going to be a lot of chaos. I don’t think so. I think having Jose Reyes there offensively is going to make my job a lot easier in many ways. He understands when he needs to bunt, he’ll bunt. He understands that when he needs to get on base, he’ll get on base. He understands when he needs that triple or that double, he’ll do so. Not only is he a good hitter, he’s a very good baserunner and an aggressive baserunner. That’s what we want out of Jose to carry over for the rest of the guys on the team.”