But is Ramos the man to lead the Nationals’ staff long-term? If so, is El General an offense-first catcher? An improved defensive presence?

The idea since Ramos became an everyday big league catcher in 2011 was that if he could stay healthy, he would hit his defense into irrelevance. Behemoth power like his — he nearly hit a ball over all the seats in left field at Nationals Park late last season — does not often settle behind the plate, so Ramos looked like that rare and coveted combination of a catcher with middle-of-the-order pop. If he could stay healthy, which he couldn’t from 2012 to 2014, he would hit.

AD

AD

Before the 2015 season, Ramos dedicated himself to building his body to withstand the demands of his position, and stayed healthier as a result. He played 128 games, 15 more than he had played in a season, but still the fewest of any catcher with enough at-bats to qualify for a title — and he did not hit. He struck out more often than in any other year of his career. He seemed a tick behind good fastballs, peppering the middle decks to the first base side of home plate with foul balls. Ramos has a .287 career average against left-handed pitching. He hit .233 against lefties in 2015.

“I know offensive for catchers not that important. It’s more important [to play good] defense,” Ramos said. “But I like to help my team with my bat, too, so this offseason I’m working hard with that, to try to get better approach at home plate and try to concentrate more and put the ball in play. This year, I got a lot of strikeouts, so that not help, but concentrate right now on all that, so hopefully next season will be better than this season.”

Measured by the not-always-reliable baseball eye test, Ramos looks like an offense-first catcher. His unique blocking style and trouble handling throws from the outfield — the most visible and immediately consequential plays a catcher must make, and therefore the most memorable — combine with sometimes monstrous batting practice displays to label him an offensive catcher, all the way.

AD

AD

But last season, when he struggled at the plate, his numbers improved so dramatically behind it that he was nominated one of three finalists for the National League Gold Glove. He allowed three passed balls, second fewest among qualified catchers. Pitchers threw 26 wild pitches in the 1078 1/3 innings Ramos caught. Only Giants catcher Buster Posey allowed fewer, in 170 fewer innings. Ramos and Posey led major league catchers with nine Defensive Runs Saved. Ramos threw out 44 percent of attempting basestealers, second-most in the majors.

“Everybody told me all the numbers are good this year, good for getting that award, but I don’t know what happened,” Ramos said. “All of my numbers was really good. Every night before I go to bed, I said, that’s for me and my family would call me every day and they was waiting for the last moment. But it’s happening, you know. Next year will be another year. Try to do better.”

As he has for eight straight years now, Yadier Molina happened. No one else really had a choice. But Ramos’s defensive metrics rank him as one of the game’s best behind the plate. He caught three no-hitters in a little more than a season.

AD

AD

“I’m very happy, very excited for all I did behind the plate,” Ramos said. “Made me feel good because [I’m] learning, every year, more and more. With my offensive, I’m a little bit not happy, but know I have to work. I’m going to work a lot to try to do a better job next season.”