Maximiliano R. Ramírez (born October 11, 1984) is a
Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
n former professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding ...
catcher
Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catcher ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL) ...
(MLB) for numerous teams.
Career
Atlanta Braves
In 2002 Ramírez was signed as an international undrafted free agent by the
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in B ...
.
Cleveland Indians
In 2006, Ramírez was traded by the Braves to the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...
for
Bob Wickman
Robert Joe Wickman (born February 6, 1969) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wickman played for the New York Yankees (–), Milwaukee Brewers (1996–), Cleveland Indians (2000–), Atlanta Braves (2006–), and Arizona Diamondback ...
.
Texas Rangers
In 2007, he was traded by Cleveland to the Texas Rangers for
Kenny Lofton
Kenneth Lofton (born May 31, 1967) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) center fielder. Lofton was a six-time All-Star (1994–1999), four-time Gold Glove Award winner (1993–1996), and at retirement, was ranked 15th amon ...
. Ramírez made his Rangers debut on June 22, .
After the 2008 season ended, Ramírez played in the
Venezuelan Winter League
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League or Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional (LVBP) is the professional baseball league in Venezuela. The league's champion takes part in the Caribbean Series each year.
History Early years
Baseball exp ...
for the
La Guaira Sharks. In 50 games, he
batted .298 with 15
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run is ...
s, 53
RBI
RBI most often refers to:
*Reserve Bank of India
*Run batted in
RBI may also refer to:
Organisations
*Radio Berlin International
*Raiffeisen Bank International
*Reed Business Information
*Restaurant Brands International
*Ruđer Bošković In ...
, and 42
runs scored
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls ...
en route to winning the Rookie of the Year Award over fellow catcher
Pablo Sandoval
Pablo Emilio Sandoval Reyes (born August 11, 1986) is a Venezuelan-American professional baseball third baseman for the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, ...
.
Following the 2009 season Ramírez traded to the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eig ...
for
Mike Lowell
Michael Averett Lowell (born February 24, 1974) is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 13-year career, Lowell played for the New York Yankees (1998), Florida Marlins (1999–2005), and the Boston Red Sox (2006&ndas ...
, but the trade was canceled because of Lowell's torn thumb ligament.
Going into the 2010 MLB season Ramírez was rated as the Rangers 11th best prospect by Baseball America.
Chicago Cubs
After the Texas Rangers signed
Arthur Rhodes
Arthur Lee Rhodes, Jr. (born October 24, 1969) is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who is the current pitching coach for the Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association of Professional Baseball.
Career ...
on January 4, 2011, Ramirez was placed on waivers to clear a spot on the 40 man roster. The
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eig ...
claimed him on January 5. He was claimed off waivers again on January 10, this time by the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is locate ...
. Ramirez was released on May 6.
Houston Astros
Ramirez signed a minor league contract with the
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
on May 10, and was optioned to Triple-A
Oklahoma City RedHawks
Oklahoma (; Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, ...
. He was released on June 16.
San Francisco Giants
On June 21, Ramirez signed a minor league contract with the
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Y ...
.
Kansas City Royals
Ramírez signed a minor league contract with the
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expa ...
on December 13, 2011. He posted a .300/.374/.473 batting line with 17 homers and 77 RBIs for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers in 2012, but failed to earn a Major League callup.
On October 18, 2012, Ramírez re-signed with the Royals on a minor league deal for the 2013 season.
Cincinnati Reds
The
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
signed Ramirez to a minor league deal on November 8, 2013. On May 22, 2014, Ramirez was released by the Reds.
Second stint with the Royals
On May 27, 2014, Ramirez signed a minor league deal to return to the Royals.
He was assigned to the Double-A
Northwest Arkansas Naturals
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springdale, Arkansas. The team is a member of the Texas League, and serves as the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. The Naturals play at Arvest Ballpark, which ...
.
Broncos de Reynosa
On April 1, 2016, Ramirez signed with the
Broncos de Reynosa
The Reynosa Broncos (''los Broncos de Reynosa'') were a Mexican team that played in the Adolfo Lopez Mateos stadium in the city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas.
The Broncos de Reynosa played in the Liga Mexicana de Beisbol and it was part of the Zona Nort ...
of the
Mexican Baseball League
The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country.
The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...
.
Toros de Tijuana
On May 18, 2016, Ramirez was traded to the
Toros de Tijuana
The Toros de Tijuana (or Tijuana Bulls) are a Mexican Baseball team based in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. They are members of the Mexican Baseball League and play their home games at Estadio Chevron.
Team history
Original Attempt
The fra ...
. He was released on June 13, 2016.
Sugar Land Skeeters
On April 19, 2017, Ramirez signed with the
Sugar Land Skeeters
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball club. They are located in Sugar Land, Texas, part of the Greater Houston metr ...
of the
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) is a professional independent baseball league based in the United States. It is an official MLB Partner League based in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The Atlantic League's ...
.
Saraperos de Saltillo
On April 21, 2017, Ramirez signed with the
Saraperos de Saltillo
The Saraperos de Saltillo (English: Saltillo Serape Wearers) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League. Their home ballpark is the Estadio de Béisbol Francisco I. Madero in Saltillo, Coahuila. They have won three championships (1980 ...
of the
Mexican Baseball League
The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country.
The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...
. He was released on February 24, 2018.
Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos
On May 1, 2018, Ramirez signed with the
Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos
The Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos (''Owls of the Two Laredos''), formerly known as the Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo (''Owls of Nuevo Laredo''), are a Minor League Baseball team based in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, and Laredo, Texas in the Mexican Leagu ...
of the
Mexican Baseball League
The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country.
The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...
. He was released on May 15, 2018.
See also
*
List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
From 1939 to 2019, 397 Venezuelan baseball players born in Venezuela have played in Major League Baseball. This list shows players who appeared in at least one game in MLB, including number indicating order of arrival, name of player, position, s ...
References
External links
Official Bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramirez, Max
1984 births
Living people
Arizona League Rangers players
Bakersfield Blaze players
Bravos de Margarita players
Broncos de Reynosa players
Danville Braves players
Fresno Grizzlies players
Frisco RoughRiders players
Gulf Coast Braves players
Iowa Cubs players
Kinston Indians players
Lake County Captains players
Louisville Bats players
Major League Baseball catchers
Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
Mayos de Navojoa players
Mexican League baseball first basemen
Northwest Arkansas Naturals players
Oklahoma City RedHawks players
Oklahoma RedHawks players
Olmecas de Tabasco players
Omaha Storm Chasers players
Sportspeople from Barquisimeto
Rome Braves players
Sugar Land Skeeters players
Sultanes de Monterrey players
Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos players
Texas Rangers players
Tiburones de La Guaira players
Toros de Tijuana players
Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Mexico
Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States
World Baseball Classic players of Venezuela
Yaquis de Obregón players
2009 World Baseball Classic players