Tigers prospect Wilkin Ramirez designated for assignment weeks after playing in Futures Game

Three weeks ago Tigers prospect Wilkin Ramirez was playing in the Futures Game for the second time in three years. Today the 24-year-old outfielder was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Jhonny Peralta. At first glance that series of events makes it seems as though the Tigers just dumped a promising young player for nothing. In reality, it just shows how out of place Ramirez was playing in a game meant to showcase the best prospects in baseball. Ramirez has good power and speed, averaging 23 homers and 32 steals per 150 games at Double-A and Triple-A, but he’s also hit just .256 with a .322 on-base percentage and an average of 185 strikeouts per 600 plate appearances between those two levels. This year he’s hit .230/.295/.458 with a ghastly 144/32 K/BB ratio in 97 games. In other words, not all Futures Game participants are created equal.