Published 11:26 IST, September 16th 2024

Heliot Ramos becomes first right-handed batter to hit Splash Homer at Oracle Park

The Giants' Heliot Ramos became the first right-handed batter in the 25-season history of Oracle Park to hit a Splash Homer into McCovey Cove, achieving the feat in a 4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

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Heliot Ramos | Image: AP
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— Giants' Heliot Ramos became first right-handed batter in 25-season history of Oracle Park to hit a Splash Homer into McCovey Cove, achieving feat in a 4-3 loss to San Diego Pres on Sunday.

Ramos hit his 394-foot drive into water beyond right field wall in ninth inning on a full-count 100.4 mph fastball from closer Robert Suarez. It was 168th Splash Hit overall, 105th by Giants.

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A 25-year-old All-Star outfielder, Ramos said he h never reached water during batting practice.

“But I knew no righty h ever done it, so it was always something that would be special if I did it,” Ramos said.

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Ramos, picked to his first All-Star team, entered hitting .158 over his prior 15 games. drive was 103.8 mph off bat, according to MLB Statcast.

“I know I’ve been hitting ball hard se last couple of weeks, but it’s just been tough for me,” Ramos said. “My mindset ... it’s been tough. I’ve been grinding. I've been fighting. In that at-bat, I didn’t care. I just went up re and swung and got a good pitch to hit. And I knew he was throwing 100, so I've got to get rey for it.”

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Manager Bob Melvin called homer a “nice little fear” for Ramos.

“That tied game, so it was even bigger at time — off a really good closer,” Melvin said.

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Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp watched homer from clubhouse after he left game, and initially couldn't tell whet ball bounced into water.

“That was unreal,” Roupp said.

Ramos, youngest Giants player with a 20-home-run season since Pablo Sandoval in 2011, said he always knew he h power to opposite field.

“It looks impossible just by looking at wall and wear here,” Ramos said. “So I was like, ‘I don’t know, but I might be able to do it, for sure.’ But I was always positive that I was going to do it.”

Ramos didn't get ball back yet but is willing to negotiate for it. He said it was extra special to accomplish feat on Roberto Clemente Day and on a day when Giants held a pregame celebration of life for Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, who died in June. Ramos said Giants have “a lot of great legends," and for him to be first with a Splash Homer is “insane to me.”

“We lost obviously, but it’s a special day because I did that,” Ramos said. “It’s a good accomplishment for me.”

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11:26 IST, September 16th 2024