Manny Ramirez looking to come out of retirement
While most professional sports leagues across the globe have been shut down due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) continues to chug along with its season playing games and providing entertainment. As a result, the league continues to garner the eyes and attention of the baseball world as diehards look to get their fix.
One person who has been paying attention and itching to get in on the action is to-time World Series winner and Major League Baseball legend Manny Ramirez. Ramirez is not completely unfamiliar with the league or the country as he briefly played in Taiwan in 2013, after mounting a brief comeback from his MLB retirement in 2011. In 49 games with the EDA Rhinos, Ramirez batted .352 with eight home runs and 43 RBIs – finishing in the top three of each category.
The 12-time MLB All-Star is now 47 years old though and hasn’t played professionally since 2017. Despite this, the slugger suggested on Wednesday in an interview with the Taiwan Times that his goal was now to find a roster spot in the CPBL.
“I have been itching to get back in the batter’s box and be able to compete again,” Ramirez said.
He knows full well that he may not be the player he used to be, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be a big draw still. Ramirez signing with a CPBL club would also help draw more eyes on the league, especially during the current outbreak with no other leagues playing games. According to the outfielder, he was a massive draw the last time he played in Taiwan and it would be no different now.
“I know if I was given the opportunity to come in an organisation as a player-coach, it would do great things for the organisation and the league,” Ramirez said.
League and club officials are also well aware of what his acquisition would do for the league, even if he isn’t in his prime anymore.
“Ramirez was quite a sensation when he played in Taiwan in 2013 and attracted many audiences,” an official at CPBL who wanted to remain unnamed told AFP.
“He would create fresh chatter if he comes to Taiwan again, whether as a player or coach this time.”
Despite only playing in the league for three months before claiming he wanted to be closer to home and signing a minor-league deal with the Texas Rangers, Ramirez has positive memories of his time in Taiwan as he was treated well by fans and media alike.
“My fondest memory of Taiwan happens to be my first home run in a Rhinos uniform.”
Regardless of whether Ramirez returns to play or not, his status as one of the greatest ever has long been cemented. Along with his two World Series victories and 12 All-Star appearances, he is also a nine-time Silver Slugger Award winner and was named the MVP of the 2004 World Series. He spent time with the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay during his illustrious career in the MLB.
