Heliot Ramos Steps into Aaron Judge's Role for Yankees' Playoff Opener

Heliot Ramos acknowledged he cannot fully replace Aaron Judge but is ready to embrace the challenge as he steps into a significant role for the New York Yankees' playoff opener. Manager Aaron Boone stated that Judge is "not quite ready" to play, leading to Ramos being placed in the lineup for the wild-card series against the Boston Red Sox.

Ramos, a trade-deadline acquisition, will be hitting third and playing right field against left-handed pitcher Payton Tolle. The 5-foot-11 outfielder, who was acquired to hit left-handed pitching, has performed well in that capacity after an initial adjustment period with the Yankees.

"At the end of the day, I’m me, and I know I’m ready for it, and I’m ready to go," Ramos said. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play in the postseason, having never reached October in his first 4 ½ seasons with the San Francisco Giants.

"Who would have thought I would have been here right now?" Ramos said. "It’s crazy that this is happening to me. It’s a blessing. ... But at the end of the day, the New York Yankees want me and I’m here to help. Honestly, I’m loving the experience. I’m loving where I’m at right now."

The Yankees targeted Ramos for his ability to platoon against left-handed pitching. This season, among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances against lefties, Ramos’ .907 OPS ranked 23rd in baseball. He began to assert himself in late August, particularly during a series against the Red Sox, where he hit his first Yankees home run and reached base in eight of 12 plate appearances.

"When I faced Suarez and I took my first at-bat and it was a walk, I felt pretty good about it," Ramos recalled of a turning point that boosted his confidence and earned him trust from the coaching staff. "I was, like, yeah, this is my time. I’m ready to go."