Former Tracy High player Steven Ramos, class of 2008, committed to the St. Louis Cardinals this week, and begins his pro career as an outfielder with the Johnson City, Tenn., Cardinals, the team’s minor league affiliate in the Appalachian League.

Ramos had a choice between the Cardinals and a partial scholarship at Cal State, Fullerton, and chose professional baseball.

“I felt I was ready to go play,” he said Tuesday from Tennessee, where he was resting up after getting to meet other new players and taking care of other team business before starting practice on Wednesday.

“I’m ready to start my career,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun getting to know everybody before we start practicing.”

The Johnson City Cardinals, based in the northeastern tip of Tennessee, is one of the Rookie affiliates of the St. Louis Cardinals. The roster of more than two-dozen players includes many of this year’s draft selections. Ramos was picked up by the Cardinals in the 22nd round of the draft.

The team plays a short season starting on Tuesday, June 22, when the Cardinals host the Kingsport Mets of Kingsport, Tenn., at Howard Johnson Field, the Cardinals’ home stadium. The team’s season runs through August 31, with the top four teams – two from the East division, two from the West -- going to playoffs starting Sept. 1. Johnson City took second place in the West division in 2009 with a 37-30 record.