Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez is inching closer to a return to the starting lineup. The slugger is excited about suiting up again, which could come as early as Sunday.
Ramirez batted .300 with 27 home runs, 105 RBI, nine stolen bases, 92 runs and a National League-best 50 doubles in 570 at-bats last season. The fact that he was able to produce the incredible numbers after getting off to a ridiculously slow start is amazing.
The 15-year veteran decided to jump out of the gate this season and forgo the slow start. He was batting .385 (5-for-13) with two RBI, three doubles and two walks before he injured his knee on April 5. Ramirez suffered the left knee sprain after he slid into second base while stretching a single into a double during the 3-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Brewers were stumbling on offense at first without their cleanup hitter, but got it going a little over a week later as the rest of Major League Baseball is well aware. Milwaukee went on a nine-game win streak in which they dominated opponents in all facets of the game. Unfortunately, the streak is now over, but at least they will be getting Ramirez back soon to help start a new one.
The 34-year-old has stated he does not want to go down to Triple-A for a rehab assignment. He felt good after taking batting practice the other day, and he feels he will produce if manager Ron Roenicke just puts him in the lineup.
“We’ve talked about why he can’t rush it,” Roenicke told Brewers.com. “He doesn’t really want to go on a rehab, so that makes it more important not to rush it. We have to make sure when we activate him, he’s ready to go.”
At the very least, Ramirez well go through some sort of simulated game in order for the Brewers to know for sure that he is ready to go. If all goes well and there are no setbacks, expect to see Ramirez back in the lineup at some point next week.
Michael Terrill is a Senior Writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelTerrill, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
