Alexei Ramírez

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For the Yokohama DeNA BayStars player, see Alex Ramirez.
Alexei Ramírez
00063398 Alexei Ramírez.jpg
Ramírez with the Chicago White Sox
Free agent
Shortstop
Born: (1981-09-22) September 22, 1981 (age 42)
Pinar del Río, Cuba
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
March 31, 2008, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2015 season)
Batting average .273
Hits 1,272
Home runs 109
Runs batted in 542
Stolen bases 135
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Alexei Ramírez
Medal record
Men’s baseball
Representing  Cuba
Summer Olympics
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens Team
Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2005 Rotterdam Team
Intercontinental Cup
Gold medal – first place 2006 Taichung Team
Central American and Caribbean Games
Gold medal – first place 2006 Cartagena Team
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team

Alexei Fernando Ramírez Rodriguez (born September 22, 1981) is a Cuban professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has played for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). His nickname, given to him by former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén, is "The Cuban Missile" due to his tall, slim physique and combination of speed, power, and strong throwing arm. Ramirez has also filled in at second base for the White Sox.

Baseball career

In seven years[citation needed] of baseball in the Cuban National Series, Ramírez spent most of his time playing shortstop and outfield for Pinar del Rio. He had a batting average of .335 in Cuba, and led the league in 2007 with 20 home runs while posting a .338 average.[citation needed] Ramírez played center field for Cuba at the 2006 World Baseball Classic, collecting 6 hits in 16 at-bats and impressing US scouts in the process. He hits and throws right-handed.

Chicago White Sox

In September 2007, Ramírez left Cuba to apply for citizenship in the Dominican Republic, and also apply to Major League Baseball to enter free agency, according to his agent, Jaime Torres. He auditioned for many baseball teams before coming to an agreement on a four-year contract with the Chicago White Sox on December 21, 2007.

During Ramírez's first season in the Majors, he excelled both offensively and in the field, despite playing second base instead of his customary shortstop position. Ramírez finished in second place in the voting for American League Rookie of the Year honors, losing to Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Alexei hit his first major league home run on May 16, 2008 versus the San Francisco Giants off Billy Sadler. He led the major leagues in grand slam home runs in 2008, with four, and also swung at 59% of all pitches he saw for the season, also the most in the majors.[1]

Ramirez fielded a ground ball for the final out of Mark Buehrle's July 23, 2009 perfect game. Ken Harrelson, the White Sox play-by-play announcer, made the call, exclaiming "Alexei! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! History!" as he completed the play.[2]

On May 5, 2014, Alexi Ramirez recorded his 1000th career hit off of Cubs pitcher Justin Grimm in the 12th inning of the Crosstown Classic.

Ramirez was announced to his first All-Star game at the 2014 MLB All-Star Game along with teammates Chris Sale and fellow countrymen José Abreu. He replaced Derek Jeter in the field in what was previously announced to be the Yankee star's final MLB season.

On November 4, 2015, the White Sox declined Ramírez's $10 million option for the 2016 season, making him a free agent.[3]

Grand slam record

Ramírez hit his first career grand slam on July 22, 2008 during a 10-2 victory against the Texas Rangers.[4]

On September 19, 2008, Ramírez hit his third grand slam of the season off of pitcher Brian Bannister of the Kansas City Royals in a 6–4 White Sox win, tying an American League rookie record set by Shane Spencer of the New York Yankees in 1998. It was the White Sox's eleventh grand slam of the season, equaling the previous club record from 2006.[5]

On September 29, 2008, Ramírez hit his fourth grand slam of the season, setting a major-league single-season record for a rookie,[6] off of Detroit Tigers pitcher Gary Glover in an 8–2 Sox victory to qualify the Sox for a one-game tiebreaker against the Minnesota Twins for the AL Central title. This also broke the team record for most grand slams in a single season.[7]

Grand slams

See also

References

  1. ↑ 2008 Major League Baseball PH/HR/Situational Hitting
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ramirez cracks first career grand slam while Buehrle handles Rangers in win. ESPN.com. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ramirez's grand slam, Wise's two homers power White Sox past Royals. ESPN.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ramirez's grand slam paves way as White Sox force tiebreaker with Twins. ESPN.com. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  8. ↑ Ramirez pounds out five RBIs as White Sox cruise by Jays. ESPN.com. Retrieved August 18, 2012.

External links

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