Ramon Bautista went homerless over his first two seasons in the Indians system, but he made up for it over two nights early in his third, in 1988 at single-A Waterloo, according to The Waterloo Courier.
His first two professional home runs came in back-to-back games that April, The Courier wrote.
"I hit a home run in spring training," Bautista explained to The Courier through a teammate interpreter. "I guess I just felt more ready when I went to the plate."
Bautista eventually hit four more home runs that season, for six in all. His career continued for three more campaigns. He topped out at AA.
Bautista's career began in 1986, signed by the Indians as a free agent out of his native Dominican Republic.
Bautista started with the Indians at rookie Burlington. He got into 41 games and hit .210. He returned to Burlington for 1987 and saw 27 games, hitting .203.
He arrived at Waterloo for 1988. That June, he hit his fifth home run of the year against Rockford, The Courier wrote.
"I was looking for my pitch," Bautista told The Courier of his home run.
Bautista saw 123 total games that year for Waterloo. He hit .246, with those six home runs. He also stole 23 bases.
Bautista arrived at single-A Kinston for 1989 and returned there at high-A in 1990. He hit .237 and .235. He then moved up to AA Canton-Akron for 1991. He hit .216 there in 102 games. That season marked his last as a pro.
- Waterloo Courier, May 1, 1988: Indians Profile Ramon Bautista
- Waterloo Courier, June 19, 1988: Bautista's homer gives Tribe 40th win
Made the Majors:1,336-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,678-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:547
10+ Seasons in the Minors:331
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