Alexei Ramírez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexei Ramírez
Ramírez with the Chicago White Sox
Shortstop
Born: (1981-09-22) September 22, 1981 (age 43) Pinar del Río, Cuba
Batted: Right Threw: Right
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
Teams
Chicago White Sox (2008–2015) San Diego Padres (2016) Tampa Bay Rays (2016)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (2014) 2× Silver Slugger Award (2010, 2014)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  Cuba World Baseball Classic Silver 2006 San Diego Team Olympic Games Gold 2004 Athens Team Baseball World Cup Gold 2005 Rotterdam Team Intercontinental Cup Gold 2006 Taichung Team Central American and Caribbean Games Gold 2006 Cartagena Team World Baseball Classic Silver 2006 San Diego Team Pan American Games Gold 2007 Rio de Janeiro Team

Alexei Fernando Ramírez Rodriguez (born September 22, 1981) is a former professional baseball shortstop from Cuba. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, and Tampa Bay Rays.

His former manager, Ozzie Guillén, gave him the nickname "the Cuban Missile." This was because of his tall, thin build and his amazing mix of speed, power, and a strong throwing arm.

Early Baseball Career

Before playing in the United States, Ramírez played for seven years in the Cuban National Series for the team from Pinar del Rio. He was a great hitter, with a batting average of .332. In 2007, he led the league with 20 home runs.

Ramírez also played for the Cuban national team. He played center field in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, where he impressed many MLB scouts with his skills.

Major League Baseball Career

Joining the Chicago White Sox

In 2007, Ramírez left Cuba to pursue his dream of playing in Major League Baseball. After showing his skills to several teams, he signed a four-year contract with the Chicago White Sox on December 21, 2007.

Rookie Sensation in 2008

Ramírez made his MLB debut on March 31, 2008. He hit his first major league home run on May 16.

That season, he became famous for hitting grand slams, which is a home run with the bases loaded. He hit his first one on July 22. By the end of the season, he had hit four grand slams. This set a new MLB record for a rookie and tied the American League rookie record. His fourth grand slam was very important because it helped the White Sox get into a tie-breaker game for a spot in the playoffs.

In his first year, Ramírez had a .290 batting average, 21 home runs, and 77 runs batted in (RBIs). He finished second in the voting for the American League Rookie of the Year award.

Years as a Star Shortstop

Ramírez (left) with Adam Jones and umpire Scott Barry in 2009.

From 2009 to 2015, Ramírez was the main shortstop for the White Sox. He was known for being a reliable player who rarely missed a game.

• 2009: Ramírez had a solid season with a .277 batting average, 15 home runs, and 68 RBIs. He was also part of a special moment when he fielded the final out of Mark Buehrle's perfect game.
• 2010: He had another strong year, hitting .282 with 18 home runs and 70 RBIs. For his excellent hitting, he won the Silver Slugger Award for the shortstop position.
• 2011–2013: During these years, he continued to be a key player. In 2013, he showed off his speed by stealing a career-high 30 bases.
• 2014: This was a special year for Ramírez. On May 5, he got his 1,000th career hit. He was also chosen for his first All-Star Game. He even got to replace the legendary Derek Jeter in the field during the game. He won his second Silver Slugger Award this year.

Ramírez in 2015.

After the 2015 season, the White Sox did not renew his contract, and he became a free agent, which meant he could sign with any team.

Final Seasons in MLB

On January 22, 2016, Ramírez signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres. He played 128 games for them, hitting .240 with 5 home runs and 41 RBIs. The Padres released him in September.

A few days later, he signed with the Tampa Bay Rays for the rest of the 2016 season. He played in 17 games for the Rays before becoming a free agent again in November.

Later Career and Retirement

In 2018, Ramírez played for the Diablos Rojos del México in the Mexican Baseball League. After that season, he looked for other chances to play professional baseball. In 2021, he officially announced his retirement from the sport.

See also

In Spanish: Alexéi Ramírez para niños

• List of baseball players who defected from Cuba