Alex Ramírez | |||
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Ramirez celebrating his 2000 career hits in 2013
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Yokohama DeNA BayStars – No. 80 | |||
Outfielder /Manager | |||
Born: Caracas, Venezuela |
3 October 1974 |||
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Professional debut | |||
MLB: 19 September, 1998, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
NPB: March 30, 2001, for the Yakult Swallows | |||
Last appearance | |||
MLB: September, 27, 2000, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
NPB: October, 8, 2013, for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars | |||
MLB statistics (through 2000) |
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Batting average | .259 | ||
Hits | 86 | ||
Home runs | 12 | ||
Runs batted in | 48 | ||
NPB statistics (through 2013) |
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Batting average | .301 | ||
Hits | 2017 | ||
Home runs | 379 | ||
Runs batted in | 1272 | ||
Teams | |||
As a player:
As manager: |
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Career highlights and awards | |||
NPB
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As a player:
As manager:
NPB
Alexander Ramón Ramírez Quiñónez (born 15 August 1974) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball outfielder who had a long career in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He is the first foreign-born player to record 2,000 hits while playing in NPB. Before playing in Japan, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians (1998–2000) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2000). He batted and threw right-handed.
In October 2015 he was named as the BayStars manager for the 2016 season.
He was named the Indians' 1998 Minor League Player of the Year (receiving the "Lou Boudreau Award").
In three MLB seasons, Ramírez batted .259 with 12 home runs, 48 RBI, 38 runs, 17 doubles, three triples, and three stolen bases in 135 games.
After the 2000 season, Ramírez signed with the Yakult Swallows (2001–2007) and was their cleanup hitter. During his final season with the Swallows he set the Central League record for most base hits in a single season (204). (This record did not stand long: Hanshin Tigers outfielder Matt Murton surpassed Ramírez's tally en route to finishing the 2010 season with 214 hits.)
The 2007 season, however, proved to be Ramírez's last with the Swallows, who did offer him the multi-year contract he sought. Instead, the outfielder signed with the Yomiuri Giants for the 2008 season. Ramírez quickly flourished with his new team. In 2008, he led the Central League with 125 RBI while hitting .319 (6th in the league) with 45 home runs (2nd). He also hit two home runs in Game 2 of the Japan Series, including one in the bottom of the ninth to win Game 2. At the end of the 2008 season, Ramírez won the Central League MVP Award. He was the third Venezuelan player to be so honored in Japanese Baseball, joining Roberto Petagine (Central League, 2001) and Alex Cabrera (Pacific League, 2002).