Another Ramirez

Cuban defector Alexei Ramirez is poised to become a free agent this winter after establishing residency in the Dominican Republic. Ramirez has played short stop, secondbase and the outfield during his career. The Mets have had a history of giving Cuban players the opportunity to flourish in major league baseball, Soler was given numerous attempts to make the club and El Duque has had some of his best years with the Mets. The below page has a You Tube of Ramirez hitting.

Alexei Ramirez led Cuba’s Serie Nacional in home runs last season with 20 and was a member of Cuba’s top-level national team for the last three seasons, winning an Olympic gold medal in 2004 in Athens and playing for Cuba’s World Baseball Classic team, which placed second to Japan. His birthdate has been listed as being either April 25 or Sept. 22, 1981, depending on different international tournament records. Torres reported the Sept. 22 birthdate in a call to Baseball America.

Ramirez, who went 6-for-16 (.375) in the WBC, has played shortstop for Pinar Del Rio but has played the outfield and second base for Cuba in international competition. He hit .335 with a .574 slugging percentage this season for Pinar del Rio.“He’s going to be available to teams this Thursday at the Hilton hotel in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic,” Torres said Tuesday. “He is in the process of establishing legal residency in the Dominican Republic. source Baseball America