Former High Point-Thomasville Hitom, Matt Ramsey, made his Major League debut April 25 for the Los Angeles Angels. Ramsey entered in the ninth inning of the Angels 11-5 win over the New York Yankees, not allowing a run, or hit, and striking out one to finish off the game in his one inning of work.

Ramsey was drafted in the 19th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays out of the University of Tennessee. The journeyman minor leaguer spent the 2018 season with the Houston Astros organization, where he notched a 2.04 ERA with a 63-to-16 K/BB ratio in 53 innings of relief between Triple-A (47 innings) and a quick stint with Houston’s Rookie-level affiliate (six innings). He joined the Angels organizaiton in the offseason where he held a 3.12 ERA with 9 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings at Triple-A, Salt Lake City, before joining the Angels on April 24 and ultimately making his MLB debut the following day.

The right-hander played for the HiToms in 2009 where he held a 13.50 ERA over 3 1/3 innings and four appearances while also playing outfield and posting a .167 batting average across 12 games played. Ramsey marks the third former CPL player to make their major league debut in 2019, and the 120th all-time. His debut also pushes High Point-Thomasville’s major league alumni total to 12 all-time.

About Coastal Plain League: 

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Heading into its 23rd season in 2019, the CPL features 16 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.  To date, the CPL has had over 1,450 alumni drafted and 120 alums – including 2017 ALCS MVP, 2017 World Series champion, 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander, as well as 2017 NLCS MVP Chris Taylor – make their Major League debut.  For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @CPLBaseball.