Juan Carlos RamÃÂrez (born August 16, 1988) is a Nicaraguan professional baseball pitcher for the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, and Los Angeles Angels, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Fubon Guardians.
RamÃÂrez began his professional career in , pitching for the rookie-level VSL Mariners. With them, he went 5âÂÂ1 with a 1.66 ERA in 14 games, 13 starts.
He pitched for the LowâÂÂA Everett Aqua Sox in , posting a 3âÂÂ7 record and an ERA of 4.30 in 15 games started.
In , he pitched for the SingleâÂÂA Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Midwest League, going 6âÂÂ9 with a 4.14 ERA in 25 games, 22 starts.
With the HighâÂÂA High Desert Mavericks in , he went 8âÂÂ10 with a 5.12 ERA in 28 games, 27 starts. He was added to the Mariners' 40-man roster on November 20 to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
On December 16, 2009, RamÃÂrez was traded with Phillippe Aumont and Tyson Gillies to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Cliff Lee.
After the 2012 season, Ramirez played for the Nicaraguan national baseball team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifying Tournament.
On January 29, 2013, RamÃÂrez was designated for assignment by the Phillies. On June 22, Ramirez's contract was selected and he was called up to the Phillies after Mike Adams was placed on the disabled list. He made his MLB debut on June 23 in a game against the New York Mets, and struck out the side with his fastball velocity reaching as high as 98 MPH over one inning. On August 2, RamÃÂrez was designated for assignment again by the Phillies. On August 25, RamÃÂrez was selected back to the 40-man roster. In 18 appearances for the Phillies during his rookie campaign, he struggled to a 7.50 ERA with 16 strikeouts across 24 innings. On October 16, RamÃÂrez was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He elected to become a free agent on October 18.
On November 1, 2013, RamÃÂrez signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians organization. RamÃÂrez split the 2014 season between the Double-A Akron RubberDucks and Triple-A Columbus Clippers, accumulating a 2âÂÂ3 record and 3.05 ERA with 29 strikeouts and three saves across innings pitched.
On December 1, 2014, RamÃÂrez signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After beginning the year with the TripleâÂÂA Reno Aces, RamÃÂrez was selected to the active roster on May 10, 2015. On May 25, RamÃÂrez suffered his first loss since 2013, surrendering a walk-off home run to Jhonny Peralta. In 12 appearances for Arizona, he logged a 1âÂÂ1 record and 4.11 ERA with 11 strikeouts across innings pitched. On June 13, the Diamondbacks designated RamÃÂrez for assignment.
RamÃÂrez was traded by the Diamondbacks to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash on July 27, 2015. On September 8, the Mariners selected RamÃÂrez to the active roster. In eight appearances for Seattle, he struggled to an 0âÂÂ1 record and 7.56 ERA with five strikeouts across innings of work. On November 6, the Mariners outrighted RamÃÂrez off of the 40-man roster and he elected free agency.
RamÃÂrez signed with the Cincinnati Reds as a free agent on November 25, 2015. He pitched in 27 games for Cincinnati with a 1âÂÂ3 record, 6.40 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in innings pitched.
On June 26, 2016, RamÃÂrez was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Angels. He pitched in a careerâÂÂhigh 43 games and was an effective member of the bullpen, posting an ERA of 2.91 in 46 innings. In 2017, RamÃÂrez began the season out of the bullpen, but due to numerous injuries to the Angels rotation he was pushed to a starting role. He was shut down in August after experiencing pain in his forearm. In 24 starts, he went 11âÂÂ10 in innings. RamÃÂrez tore his UCL in his throwing elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery after only 2 starts for the 2018 season. He pitched innings on the season with the Angels and was 0âÂÂ2. On August 15, 2019, RamÃÂrez was outrighted off the Angels roster after appearing in only 5 games due to injury. He elected free agency on October 14.
On February 19, 2020, RamÃÂrez re-signed with the Angels on a minor league contract. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. RamÃÂrez became a free agent on November 2.
On December 28, 2020, RamÃÂrez signed with the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League for the 2021 season. On March 19, 2021, RamÃÂrez made his CPBL debut. On July 9, RamÃÂrez was released by the Guardians and left Taiwan.
On July 13, 2021, RamÃÂrez signed with the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. In 3 starts for México, he logged a 2âÂÂ0 record and 3.68 ERA with 10 strikeouts across innings pitched. RamÃÂrez was released by the Diablos on January 26, 2022.
On March 31, 2022, RamÃÂrez signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. In 16 appearances for the TripleâÂÂA St. Paul Saints, he posted a 5.66 ERA with 28 strikeouts across 35 innings of work. RamÃÂrez was released by the Twins organization on July 13.
On February 22, 2023, RamÃÂrez signed with the Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League. In 15 starts for Monterrey, he posted a 6âÂÂ6 record and 4.59 ERA with 59 strikeouts across innings pitched. RamÃÂrez was released by the Sultanes on July 11.
On July 31, 2023, RamÃÂrez signed with the Saraperos de Saltillo of the Mexican League. In 2 starts for the team, he registered a 4.50 ERA with 7 strikeouts over 12 innings. RamÃÂrez failed to make Saltillo's Opening Day roster for the 2024 season and was released on April 6, 2024.
On April 30, 2024, RamÃÂrez signed with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League. In 14 starts for Aguascalientes, he compiled a 6âÂÂ3 record and 4.00 ERA with 46 strikeouts across 72 innings pitched. RamÃÂrez was released by the Rieleros on October 22.
On June 1, 2025, RamÃÂrez signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In nine appearances (seven starts) for the Revolution, he struggled to a 1âÂÂ2 record and 7.13 ERA with 24 strikeouts across innings pitched. With York, RamÃÂrez won the Atlantic League championship.