MILWAUKEE -- After dropping a series to the last-place Rockies over the weekend, the Giants continued to shake up their underperforming roster on Monday, selecting right-hander Wilkin Ramos and infielder Buddy Kennedy from Triple-A Sacramento.
The Giants made room for the two newcomers by optioning versatile catcher Jesus Rodriguez and placing right-hander Joel Peguero on the 60-day injured list with a moderate left hamstring strain. Catcher Logan Porter was also designated for assignment to clear a second spot on the 40-man roster.
Ramos, 25, joined the Giants on a Minor League deal over the offseason and earned his first big league callup after logging a 2.00 ERA with 27 strikeouts over 27 innings in 17 relief appearances for Sacramento this year. He found out about his long-awaited promotion after the River Cats traveled back home from Reno on Sunday.
Ramos said the rest of the team’s equipment was still in transit when they got back to Sutter Health Park, so he thought it was odd that his bags were the only ones that were placed on the bus back to Sacramento.
“They left all of the players’ bags in Reno,” Ramos said in Spanish. “The only two bags that came were mine. I was like, ‘What are these bags doing here?’ And the manager told me, ‘I don’t know, maybe it’s because you’re going to the big leagues.’
“It’s a unique feeling. I want to thank God and the Giants for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream.”
Ramos struggled to an 11.81 ERA over five Cactus League outings this spring, but he worked hard on throwing more strikes and doing a better job of controlling the running game in the Minors.
“He’s earned it,” manager Tony Vitello said. “Sometimes they take matters into their own hands, and you can’t deny what he’s done. Prior to that, too, there was a lot to get excited about.”
The 6-foot-6 Ramos originally signed with the A’s for $300,000 in July 2017 and received a dog tag when he began his professional career in the Dominican Summer League the following year. He kept the necklace with him at every step of his baseball journey, vowing to wear it when he finally reached the big leagues.
“This was from my group when I first signed,” Ramos said, holding up the memento. “I told myself I was going to reach the big leagues with this necklace.”
Ramos’ arrival should help make up for the loss of Peguero, who recorded a 2.38 ERA over 11 outings for the Giants before reinjuring the same hamstring that forced him to open the season on the IL.
“It’s reoccuring, and I think this is something he’s got to get past,” Vitello said. “As long as his lower half is right, everybody knows what he’s capable of doing with his arm or his upper half.”
Rodriguez was expected to be a big part of the Giants’ catching mix following the departure of two-time Gold Glove winner Patrick Bailey, who was traded to the Guardians last month, but he didn’t get a ton of playing time as the third catcher on the roster.
The Giants preferred to go with Daniel Susac and Eric Haase as their primary tandem behind the plate, which made it difficult to find consistent opportunities for the 24-year-old Rodriguez, who batted .231 with a .687 OPS and two home runs over 14 games.
“I think to play [the catcher] position, you’ve got to consistently do it,” Vitello said. “Haase has kind of forced the issue, where his experience really helps and he’s been able to do some things offensively. And then Susac has been a rock for us, as well.”
With Christian Koss on the Triple-A IL, the Giants decided to bring up Kennedy to serve as a backup infielder. Kennedy, who also joined San Francisco on a Minor League deal over the winter, was batting .321 with a .967 OPS and eight home runs over 48 games in Sacramento this year.
The 27-year-old can play all over the infield, and he has logged stints with the D-backs, Tigers, Phillies, Blue Jays and Dodgers over part of four big league seasons, batting .178 with a .545 OPS over 67 career games.
Giants close to hiring Pettis
The Giants are in talks to hire former Astros coach Gary Pettis as their new third-base coach, though no deal is official yet.
Pettis, 68, coached third base under Giants infield coach Ron Washington in Texas and held the same role on former Giants manager Dusty Baker’s coaching staff in Houston. Pettis was a member of the Astros’ coaching staff for 10 seasons, though he parted ways with the organization at the end of the 2024 campaign.
Ron Wotus is currently serving as the Giants’ interim third-base coach, but the organization wanted to find a permanent replacement for Hector Borg, who was reassigned to a player development role last week following a series of questionable calls on the field.