Fast focus for Ferris’ Frolian
Ramirez finds plate, finds mental approach that leads to huge success
For a while, Frolian Ramirez just thought his natural ability would carry him right through the Ferris High School baseball program to a stellar career. With a solid 6-foot-3 frame and a fine range of motion, Ramirez had all the tools to become a successful high school varsity baseball pitcher.
However, natural ability may carry some players, but not the ones who play in veteran coach Mike Hogan’s program. To play for Hogan, who has been a successful high school baseball coach for 20 years at St. Anthony and Marist before coming to Ferris five years ago, you have to be able to handle all aspects of the game, not just the physical part.
And Ramirez was not ready to do the little things necessary to play for Hogan.
"He thought everything evolved around him and baseball and nothing else," Hogan said. "He thought his talent was going to take him. He had talent, but he had periods where he couldn’t find the plate. He would then lose his focus and concentration and try to throw too hard. That threw his control off."
So Hogan made a tough decision last year, keeping Ramirez with the junior varsity instead of with the varsity.
The demotion hit Ramirez hard.
"I really wanted to play varsity," Ramirez said. "But I guess I had to learn a lesson. I was not into baseball fully and I wasn’t paying attention to everything else. I had to be serious about everything."
At the end of the 2001 baseball season, Ramirez became extremely dedicated and gained a new focus on his life. With Hogan’s encouragement, Ramirez attended a pitching camp at Old Dominion University in Virginia. He played American Legion baseball in the Bergen Area American Legion League through the summer months.
"He got a lot of experience there," Hogan said. "And we played some of the best programs in the state, like Ramapo, St. Joseph of Montvale, Rutherford. Frolian got to pitch against some tough teams."
Ramirez didn’t stop there. He also played fall baseball, pitching at least once a week through September and October.
"During the summer and the fall, I worked on a lot of things," Ramirez said. "I didn’t have good control. I was wild and walked a lot of people. I needed to work on finding the plate, work on my mechanics and technique. I could see that I was getting better. I also lifted weights all winter, to get bigger and stronger. I knew when I pitched that I had to keep focused on throwing strikes."
When the 2002 varsity season began, Ramirez was more than ready. He wanted to take the ball as a varsity pitcher as soon as possible. His off-season regimen paid off, because Hogan gave Ramirez the nod as the Bulldogs’ starting pitcher on Opening Day, when Ferris faced Passaic.
"That’s all I was thinking about all during the fall and winter," Ramirez said. "I wanted to pitch the opening game and I wondered how I would do."
"He realized that everything doesn’t evolve around him and worked hard," Hogan said. "He became focused on what he had to do and became more mature."
There is no arguing with the results, because Ramirez has been downright brilliant for the Bulldogs in the opening weeks of the season. He started off the season with a one-hitter against Passaic, striking out 12. He followed it up last week with a four-hitter against St. Raymond’s of New York, striking out 12, and then knocked off previously undefeated Emerson, 6-3, allowing just three hits, striking out 14. Through it all, Ramirez has kept his focus, poise and composure – and the streak of wildness has been sequestered.
Last Tuesday, Ramirez also delivered the game-winning single in a 6-5 win over Dickinson, a game where Ramirez was the winning pitcher in relief, pushing his seasonal mark to 4-0.
For his efforts, Ramirez has been selected as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
"I never expected any of this," said the humble Ramirez. "I never made an All-Star team in Little League or won an MVP. To get Athlete of the Week? Wow! I am really surprised. It’s just going to make me work harder. I have a lot of hopes."
Hogan said that Ramirez has a lot of ability – and potential to boot.
"He throws about 84-85," said Hogan, who has had several players advance to college and professional baseball, including two, John Valentin (Mets) and Willie Banks (Red Sox) that are currently in the Major Leagues. "He has a very good arm and has enormous hands. You have to figure that there is an upside and that he’s going to get better. He has a good fastball, a curve and a change."
Added Hogan, "He’s the best pitcher we’ve had since I’ve been at Ferris. He’s dominated the first three games. And he’s going to help us win games for the rest of the season."
Ramirez knew that Emerson was undefeated before he took the mound last week, having knocked off perennial HCIAA power Memorial earlier in the season.
"Kids kept telling me in school all day that Emerson was undefeated," Ramirez said. "I was ready for them. I felt confident. I went in to the game and did my job. I threw strikes and had my teammates calm me down. I was just relaxed and threw strikes. That’s the key."
Added Ramirez, "Staying focused is also a key. I know that now." – Jim Hague