Washington Nationals’ Wilson Ramos to Make First Start At Catcher Today

Apr 21, 2012; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (3) bats during the game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 3 – 2. in 10 innings. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

MLB.com’s Bill Ladson reports that Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos will make his first start of the Spring at catcher this afternoon. Ramos has been working since May to overcome a knee injury he suffered against the Reds, and has spent the first first weeks of camp getting back into the swing of things.

Ramos has been viewed as the Nationals’ “catcher of the future” ever since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins for Matt Capps back in 2010, and has impressed so far in his time in Washington. Ramos finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2011, hitting .267 with 15 homers and 52 RBIs over 113 games played. Ramos also posted a .993 fielding percentage while catching 32% of runners that stole against him. In parts of three seasons with Washington, Ramos has hit .267 with 19 home runs and 66 RBIs. He is projected to back up Kurt Suzuki on the varsity roster to start 2013.