Angels’ JC Ramirez picks up where he left off in 2018 debut

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — If the purpose of JC Ramirez’s first competitive inning since last August was to pick up where he left off in 2017, consider Thursday a success.

Ramirez mowed down a stout San Francisco Giants lineup, including newcomers Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria, in his return from an elbow injury that ended his breakout season.

“I feel like I’m back,” Ramirez declared after a scoreless debut.

The purpose of his second inning was to take the next step in his quest to crack the Angels’ starting rotation.

Ramirez struck out Giants catcher Nick Hundley on a curveball in the dirt, a pitch he barely used against right-handed hitters last season. He retired the next two batters he faced in the inning, and six of seven overall, while throwing 28 pitches.

A reliever throughout his major league career, Ramirez quickly established himself last year as the Angels’ most reliable starting pitcher. He went 11-10 with a 4.15 earned-run average before he was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament and missed the final six weeks of the season. The 29-year-old right-hander underwent stem-cell therapy last September in hopes of avoiding major surgery. So far, the treatment has proven effective.

To avoid any hesitation letting loose, Ramirez pitched two live batting practice sessions to teammates before making his Cactus League debut.

“I didn’t stick back anything. I threw what I have,” he said.

Ramirez’s quest is similar to that of teammate Garrett Richards, who underwent stem-cell therapy for a similar injury one year earlier. Richards was off to a promising start last season before an irritated nerve in his right biceps curtailed his progress.

Ramirez said he has leaned on Richards for advice early in camp.

“He gives me a lot of advice: don’t baby my arm, throw my normal way,” Ramirez said. “Whatever you have to do, keep doing the same thing you had to do in the past.”

Now, Ramirez and Richards are among eight pitchers eyeing six spots in the Angels’ starting rotation.

Richards, Shohei Ohtani, Andrew Heaney, Tyler Skaggs and Matt Shoemaker are the favored five. Right-handers Parker Bridwell and Nick Tropeano, who also pitched two scoreless innings against the Giants, can make the competition more interesting with a strong spring training.

Ramirez is out of minor-league options and his track record as a reliever makes him a candidate to shift to the bullpen if needed, but Manager Mike Scioscia isn’t focused on that option.

“We look for him to be in our rotation right now,” Scioscia said. “We’re going to take everything one week at a time.”

OHTANI UPDATE

Ohtani has not taken any competitive at-bats the day before either of his first two Cactus League pitching appearances. This is one facet of the Angels’ plan to ease Ohtani into the rhythm of his first spring training in the United States.

That plan, however, might cease once the regular season begins.

“We’re going to look very closely at it,” Scioscia said. “There’s a lot of effort a pitcher puts into pitching. Obviously it might erode some of the opportunities he has to hit. We’re going to be flexible with everything we do.

“If it comes down to where he’s pitching on a day, and he’s not going to hit the day before, so be it. If he’s a day after he’s not available to pinch hit, so be it. We need to be flexible as we go through it, to work it out.”

Ohtani will pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday in Maryvale.

ALSO

So-called “B games,” like the one Ohtani will pitch in Friday, are rarely the domain of veterans and 40-man roster players. Yet since Ohtani is on the mound, 34-year-old catcher Rene Rivera will be behind the plate. … As it is a “B game,” Ohtani’s pitching statistics will not count toward his official spring training ledger. … The Angels’ minor league pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report Saturday.

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