Ex-Arizona Wildcat Cody Ramer stepping away from baseball

Ramer didn’t publicly announce the news, but his player profile on the Minor League Baseball website lists his status as being on the “voluntarily retired list.” The transaction took place July 26, just six days after he was demoted within the Los Angeles Angels farm system.

Ramer’s Twitter account includes replies to users wishing him well in his ventures outside of pro baseball.

The Angels drafted Ramer in the 19th round last year and he instantly made an impression, despite missing a month with an oblique injury. The second baseman hit .351 in 23 rookie-ball games and was assigned to the Class A-advanced Inland Empire this spring.

There, the UA All-American never found his comfort zone. He was batting .231 through 72 games when he was sent down a level to Class A Burlington on July 20. He never appeared in a game for the Bees.

Ramer’s 102 hits as an Arizona senior are the eighth-most in a single season in school history.

Here’s a glance at how some of the 40-plus Southern Arizona products in the minors fared last week:

Batter of the week

Brandon Dixon, 3B, Louisville Bats (AAA)

When you start your week with home runs in each game of a doubleheader, good things are bound to follow. Dixon discovered as much after going deep twice to help the Reds’ Triple-A club win twice Tuesday.

The former UA star homered again Thursday and Friday to continue a surge in the second half of the season. Dixon hit a paltry .229 in April and May, but he has posted a .274 average since then with an on-base percentage 80 points higher (.356) than what he had in the season’s first two months.

Pitcher of the week

Konner Wade, RHP, Hartford Yard Goats (AA)

The Yard Goats turned Wade into a middle reliever last year, with the ex-Wildcat standout making the occasional start. One of his best such outings came Thursday, when he limited Reading to one hit in six shutout innings.

Even with that stellar showing, Wade has been more effective out of the bullpen (3.44 ERA in 18 appearances) than he has as a starter (5.13 ERA, nine starts) this year.

On the move

Kevin Newman, SS, Indianapolis Indians (AAA)

He might’ve been mired in a career-worst season, but Newman still showed the Pirates enough to promote him to Triple-A for the first time July 20. And he’s made them look smart since.

The UA alum and 2015 first-round pick hit a walk-off single Sunday to beat Pawtucket in 12 innings, capping a 2-for-6 day. Newman missed the previous three games with a shin contusion, but he has four multi-hit games in eight appearances with Indianapolis.

The big number

28 Doubles for Johnny Field, the most this season in the Triple-A International League. Field, the center fielder for the Durham Bulls, is hitting .333 (32 for 96) in his last 23 games.