Former New York Mets Pitching Products Elvin Ramirez, Jim Fuller Land with New Britain Bees

Jerry Del Priore

The New Britain Bees of the independent Atlantic League announced during the week that they have signed pitchers Elvin Ramirez and Jim Fuller for the 2018 campaign.

Ramirez comes to New Britain after appearing in 31 games with the now-defunct Bridgeport Bluefish, where he posted a 5-2 record with a 2.31 ERA, two saves and 30 strikeouts in 33.1 innings pitched.

The Bees acquired the 30-year-old righty in a trade with the Long Island Ducks.

Ramirez made his professional debut in 2007 after the New York Mets inked him as an undrafted free agent. The San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, native worked his way up the Mets’ minor league ladder until he made his major league debut on June 3, 2012 with New York. He pitched 21.1 MLB innings across 20 games with the Mets, blanking 22 hitters in the process.

In 264 career minor league contests, Ramirez has totaled 25 victories with a 4.04 ERA and has whiffed 421 batters across 501.2 frames.

Jim Fuller, an ex-Brooklyn Cyclones (short-season Single-A) in 2008 and 2009, joins New Britain for his 10th season of pro baseball and second in the Atlantic League after the Bees acquired him in a trade with the Chicago Dogs of the American Association.

Last year, the lefthander appeared in 18 games with the Ducks, posting a 2.30 ERA with one win and 20 strikeouts in 15.2 frames.

New York selected Fuller out of Southern Connecticut State University in the 21st round of the ‘08 MLB amateur draft.

He spent five seasons in the Mets organization before joining the Minnesota Twins’ system in 2014 and pitching in New Britain Stadium as a member of the New Britain Rock Cats.

The Brighton, Massachusetts-born left-hander appeared in 38 tilts for the Rock Cats, recording a 3-1 mark with a 2.41 ERA and 68 strikeouts over the course of 56.0 innings. After his successful campaign, Fuller spent the following two years with the Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates franchises, reaching the Triple-A level with both organizations.

The 30-year-old hurler owns a 30-22 record with a 3.02 ERA and 445 punch outs over the course of 426.0 innings pitched in 174 minor league games.