Add The New York Post on Google TORONTO — Heliot Ramos knows why the Yankees acquired him at the trade deadline: to help lift up a scuffling offense.
The outfielder has been eager to do just that. Except in his first handful of games with his new team, despite hitting the ball hard, he has not gotten much in the way of results, which is where human nature starts to kick in and perhaps work against him to an extent.
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“Probably just trying to do too much,” Ramos said Friday at Rogers Centre. “Because I see the ones that I hit not landing. I feel like you’re going to get out — things happen, baseball happens, you’re going to get out. So whenever that happens, I’ve tried to do too much and that’s when the strikeouts happen.”
Entering Friday’s game against the Blue Jays, Ramos was batting 2-for-25 with two doubles, 10 strikeouts and three walks in his first eight games as a Yankee. That included being 0-for-6 with two walks against lefties, whom the right-handed hitter had been brought in to mash.
In the extremely small sample size, Ramos has struck out at a higher rate (33.3 percent) than he did with the Giants (26.8 percent), which he was quick to point out.
“That kind of sucks for me,” he said. “But when I hit it, I hit it. So I’ve been feeling pretty good. I just have to stay within myself. I haven’t been chasing a lot, so that’s something I like. I just want to stay positive, stay consistent with it.”
New York Yankees left fielder Heliot Ramos (34) reacts after striking out swinging with two runners on to end the sixth inning during a game against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Yankee Stadium. Jason Szenes for the New York Post The underlying numbers have been more encouraging.
On the 15 balls he has put in play as a member of the Yankees, Ramos’ average exit velocity was 93.8 mph, a tick up from his season average (92 mph) that ranks in the 88th percentile. Of the seven balls he had hit at 95 mph or higher — registering as hard-hit balls — six had gone for outs.
“OK, for not having any results, really,” manager Aaron Boone said of Ramos’ at-bats. “He’s squaring the ball up a fair amount. He’s just got to get some to fall and get him going, get him settled a little bit more. I haven’t felt like, ‘Oh man, he’s struggling,’ even though he obviously hasn’t gotten results. Because there’s been a number of balls he’s hit on the screws, lined out to right, lined out to center some.
“He’s having competitive at-bats. He’s had some tough matchups in there along the way as well. He doesn’t feel like a guy that’s scuffling to me.”
New York Yankees left fielder Heliot Ramos (34) hits a double during the fourth inning when the New York Yankees played the Atlanta Braves on Friday, August 7, 2026, at Yankee Stadium. Jason Szenes for the New York Post On the day he acquired Ramos, Brian Cashman indicated the outfielder was going to get everyday at-bats in August while the Yankees tried to get healthy. Cody Bellinger appears to be the closest (of himself, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge) to coming back, potentially going out on a rehab assignment by next week before a return, at which point Ramos could slide into a platoon role in right field.
The Yankees have been playing Ramos in left field so far to help him get settled after the trade — since that is where he had predominantly played with the Giants this season — though he is expected to make the move to right field once Bellinger gets back.
In the meantime, the 26-year-old Ramos is just trying to get his feet underneath him, 11 days removed from the trade that upended his baseball journey and threw him squarely into a playoff race.
“It’s definitely strange,” Ramos said. “A lot going on, for sure. I feel like I haven’t had the time to sit back and just enjoy where I’m at right now. I have been trying to work and produce. I just want to bring the help. So everything has kind of been quick for me. But I’m getting there.”
