Healthy Hanley looking like his old self again

JUPITER, Fla. -- The sound off the bat is completely different from a year ago.

It's loud and it's forceful and it has a familiar ring to it. It's a sign that Hanley Ramirez seems to be back in a big way.

The Marlins' three-time All-Star once again is stinging the ball. On Saturday, he blistered his second home run of the Grapefruit League season, connecting on a two-run shot to left off Twins right-hander Carl Pavano in the fifth inning.

A ripped 227 pounds, Ramirez is off to a blazing Spring Training start, going 9-for-19 (.474) in his first eight games. If you count his opposite-field drive against the University of Miami on March 6 at Marlins Park, the newly converted third baseman has three blasts in the exhibition season.

"It's a big year for him," hitting coach Eduardo Perez said. "I think he's going to be again one of the top players in the league, and maybe the top player in the league. Health is huge. Environment is great, and he's being put into a situation to succeed. I've got to give him a lot of credit. He's learning a new position. He's embracing it. He's not letting that affect at all his offense, and we're seeing it now. Hopefully he can carry it into the season."

After an injury-plagued 2011, Ramirez is striving to return to the form that made him one of the elite players in the National League.

"That's what I'm aiming for, that's what we're doing in Spring Training, to get ready for the season," the 28-year-old slugger said.

What Ramirez didn't talk about much a year ago is the pain he experienced on a daily basis. He doesn't want to make any excuses for his worst pro season, in which he finished with a .243 batting average, 10 home runs and 45 RBIs in 92 games.

In assessing his down year, much was made over the fact he missed the final two months due to a left shoulder injury, which required surgery in September.

Before the shoulder dislodged against the Mets at Citi Field in early August, Ramirez previously was dealing with some back issues.

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Healthy Hanley looking like his old self again