Alexei Ramírez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alexei Ramírez |
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Ramírez with the Chicago White Sox
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| Shortstop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: September 22, 1981 Pinar del Río, Cuba |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March 31, 2008, for the Chicago White Sox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 2, 2016, for the Tampa Bay Rays | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .270 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 115 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 590 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Alexei Fernando Ramírez Rodriguez (born September 22, 1981) is a former professional baseball player from Cuba. He was a shortstop who played for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). These teams included the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, and Tampa Bay Rays. Before joining MLB, he played for Pinar del Rio in the Cuban National Series.
His nickname was "the Cuban Missile". This name was given to him by his former White Sox manager, Ozzie Guillén. It described his tall, slim build and his great mix of speed, power, and a strong throwing arm. Ramírez batted and threw with his right hand.
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Early Baseball Career
Alexei Ramírez played baseball in the Cuban National Series for seven years. During this time, he mostly played shortstop and outfield for the Pinar del Rio team. He was a very good hitter in Cuba, with a batting average of .332.
In 2007, he led the league with 20 home runs and had a .335 batting average. Ramírez also played center field for the Cuban national team. He played in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, where he got six hits in 16 times at bat. His performance there really impressed scouts from Major League Baseball.
Professional Baseball Journey
Joining Major League Baseball
In September 2007, Ramírez left Cuba. He went to the Dominican Republic to become a citizen there. This allowed him to become a free agent in Major League Baseball. He tried out for many baseball teams. On December 21, 2007, he signed a four-year contract worth $8 million with the Chicago White Sox.
First Season with White Sox (2008)
Ramírez played his first MLB game on March 31, 2008, against the Cleveland Indians. He started as the center fielder. On April 2, he got his first major league hit. On May 16, he hit his first major league home run.
He hit his first grand slam on July 22, 2008. A grand slam is a home run hit when all three bases are occupied. On September 19, Ramírez hit his third grand slam of the season. This tied an American League rookie record. On September 29, he hit his fourth grand slam of the season. This set a new major-league record for a rookie in a single season!
In his first season, Ramírez played very well. He had a .290 batting average, 21 home runs, and 77 RBI. He finished second in the voting for the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award. He led all major league players in grand slams in 2008.
Next Seasons with White Sox (2009-2015)
In 2009, Ramírez played in 148 games. He had a .277 batting average, 15 home runs, and 15 stolen bases. He also caught the final out of Mark Buehrle's perfect game on July 23, 2009.
In 2010, his batting average went up to .282. He hit 18 home runs and won the Silver Slugger Award for shortstops. This award is given to the best offensive player at each position.
On January 31, 2011, Ramírez signed a new four-year contract with the White Sox. He continued to play consistently, hitting 15 home runs in 2011 and 9 home runs in 2012. In 2012, he also set a new personal best with 20 stolen bases.
In 2013, his batting average was .284, his highest since his first year. He also stole 30 bases, which was another career high.
On May 5, 2014, Ramírez got his 1,000th career hit. This is a big milestone for any baseball player. He was also chosen for his first All-Star Game in 2014. He played alongside his teammates Chris Sale and José Abreu.
After the 2015 season, the White Sox decided not to keep Ramírez for 2016, making him a free agent.
Time with Padres and Rays (2016)
On January 22, 2016, Ramírez signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres. He played in 128 games for them, mostly at shortstop. He had a .240 batting average, five home runs, and 41 RBI. The Padres released him on September 4, 2016.
Just a few days later, on September 8, 2016, Ramírez signed with the Tampa Bay Rays. He played in 17 games with the Rays. On November 3, Ramírez became a free agent again.
Later Career and Retirement
On February 8, 2018, Ramírez signed with the Diablos Rojos del México in the Mexican Baseball League. He played 37 games there before being released on August 16, 2018.
In May 2020, Ramírez said he was still looking for chances to play professional baseball. However, he later confirmed his retirement from the sport in 2021.
See also
In Spanish: Alexéi Ramírez para niños
- List of baseball players who defected from Cuba
