Heliot Ramos Is First Right-Handed Batter to Hit Splash Homer at Oracle Park

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a memorable moment for Giants fans, Heliot Ramos made history on Sunday by becoming the first right-handed hitter to launch a Splash Homer into McCovey Cove, a milestone in the 25-year history of Oracle Park. This achievement came during the Giants’ 4-3 defeat against the San Diego Padres.

In the ninth inning, on a full count, Ramos connected with a 100.4 mph fastball from Padres closer Robert Suarez, sending the ball 394 feet over the right field wall and into the water. This home run marked the 168th Splash Hit overall, while also adding to the Giants’ tally, bringing it to 105.

The 25-year-old outfielder, an All-Star this season, expressed that he had never reached the water during batting practice before. “But I knew no righty had ever done it, so it was always something that would be special if I did it,” Ramos shared, emphasizing the significance of his accomplishment.

Prior to this, Ramos had struggled, with a batting average of .158 over his last 15 games. Nevertheless, the impressive drive generated 103.8 mph off the bat as recorded by MLB Statcast. Reflecting on his performance, Ramos noted, “I know I’ve been hitting the ball hard these last couple of weeks, but it’s just been tough for me. 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 there and swung and got a good pitch to hit.”

Giants manager Bob Melvin praised Ramos’s homer, labeling it as a “nice little feather” in his cap. “That tied the game, so it was even bigger at the time – off a really good closer,” Melvin commented, highlighting the timing of the home run.

After leaving the game, Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp had the chance to watch Ramos’s historic hit from the clubhouse and remarked on its spectacle: “That was unreal.”

Ramos, now the youngest Giants player to achieve a 20-home-run season since Pablo Sandoval in 2011, recognized his power to the opposite field. “It looks impossible just by looking at the wall and the weather here. 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,” he explained, reflecting on the moment he reached such heights.

While Ramos has yet to recover the baseball he hit into McCovey Cove, he is open to negotiations to get it back. He noted the special timing of his achievement, occurring on Roberto Clemente Day and following a pregame tribute to Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, who sadly passed away in June. “The Giants have a lot of great legends, and for me to be the first with a Splash Homer is insane to me,” Ramos stated, acknowledging the honor of joining such a prestigious club.

Despite the team’s loss, Ramos expressed pride in his accomplishment. “We lost obviously, but it’s a special day because I did that,” he said. “It’s a good accomplishment for me.”