Alexei Ramírez
Encyclopedia
Alexei Fernando Ramírez (born September 22, 1981 in Pinar del Río
, Cuba
) is a Major League Baseball
second baseman
and shortstop
for the Chicago White Sox
. His nickname, given to him by White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén
, is "The Cuban Missile" due to his tall, slim physique and combination of speed and power.
, Ramírez spent most of his time playing shortstop
and outfield
for Pinar del Rio. He had a batting average of .335 in Cuba, and led the league in 2007 with 20 home runs while posting a .338 average. Ramírez played center field for Cuba at the 2006 World Baseball Classic
, collecting 6 hits in 16 at-bats and impressing US scouts in the process. He hits and throws right-handed.
In September 2007, Ramírez left Cuba to apply for citizenship in the Dominican Republic
, and also apply to Major League Baseball to enter free agency, according to his agent, Jaime Torres. He auditioned for many baseball teams before coming to an agreement on a four year contract with the Chicago White Sox on December 21, 2007.
During Ramírez's first season in the Majors, he excelled both offensively and in the field, despite playing second base instead of his customary shortstop position. Ramírez finished in second place in the voting for American League
Rookie of the Year honors, losing to Evan Longoria
of the Tampa Bay Rays
.
Alexei hit his first major league home run on May 16, 2008 versus the San Francisco Giants
off Billy Sadler
. He led the major leagues in grand slam home runs in 2008, with four, and also swung at 59% of all pitches he saw for the season, also the most in the majors.
Ramirez fielded a ground ball for the final out of Mark Buehrle
's July 23, 2009 perfect game
. Ken Harrelson
, the White Sox play-by-play announcer, made the call, exclaiming "Alexei! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! History!" as he completed the play.
.
On September 20, 2008, Ramirez hit his third grand slam of the season off of pitcher Brian Bannister
of the Kansas City Royals
in a 6-4 White Sox win, tying an American League rookie record set by Shane Spencer
of the New York Yankees
in 1998. It was the White Sox's eleventh grand slam of the season, tying the club record set in 2006.
On September 29, 2008, Ramirez hit his fourth grand slam of the season, setting a major-league single-season record for a rookie, off of Detroit Tigers
pitcher Gary Glover
in an 8-2 Sox victory to qualify the Sox for a one-game tiebreaker
against the Minnesota Twins
for the AL Central title. This also broke the team record for most grand slams in a single season.
Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río is a city in Cuba. It is the capital of Pinar del Río Province.Inhabitants of the area are called Pinareños.Neighborhoods in the city include La Conchita, La Coloma, Briones Montoto and Las Ovas.-History:...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. His nickname, given to him by White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén
Ozzie Guillén
Oswaldo José "Ozzie" Guillén Barrios is a Venezuelan-American former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Miami Marlins. He managed the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011 before asking for his release at the end of the 2011 season....
, is "The Cuban Missile" due to his tall, slim physique and combination of speed and power.
Baseball career
In seven years of baseball in the Cuban National SeriesCuban National Series
The Cuban National Series is the primary domestic amateur baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban national baseball system.-League structure:...
, Ramírez spent most of his time playing shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
for Pinar del Rio. He had a batting average of .335 in Cuba, and led the league in 2007 with 20 home runs while posting a .338 average. Ramírez played center field for Cuba at the 2006 World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
, collecting 6 hits in 16 at-bats and impressing US scouts in the process. He hits and throws right-handed.
In September 2007, Ramírez left Cuba to apply for citizenship in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, and also apply to Major League Baseball to enter free agency, according to his agent, Jaime Torres. He auditioned for many baseball teams before coming to an agreement on a four year contract with the Chicago White Sox on December 21, 2007.
During Ramírez's first season in the Majors, he excelled both offensively and in the field, despite playing second base instead of his customary shortstop position. Ramírez finished in second place in the voting for American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Rookie of the Year honors, losing to Evan Longoria
Evan Longoria
Evan Michael Longoria is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays. Formerly, Longoria was a star infielder for the Long Beach State University baseball team, the Cape Cod League MVP, and the Big West Co-Player of the Year.He made his major league debut for the Rays in , and...
of the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
.
Alexei hit his first major league home run on May 16, 2008 versus the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
off Billy Sadler
Billy Sadler
William Henry "Billy" Sadler IV is a right-handed relief pitcher who is currently a free agent...
. He led the major leagues in grand slam home runs in 2008, with four, and also swung at 59% of all pitches he saw for the season, also the most in the majors.
Ramirez fielded a ground ball for the final out of Mark Buehrle
Mark Buehrle
Mark Alan Buehrle is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He has pitched his entire baseball career for the Chicago White Sox, starting the opening game every season from 2002 to 2006 and again from 2008 to 2011....
's July 23, 2009 perfect game
Mark Buehrle's perfect game
Mark Buehrle of the Chicago White Sox pitched a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays by retiring all 27 batters he faced on Thursday, July 23, 2009. This event took place in U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois in front of 28,036 fans in attendance...
. Ken Harrelson
Ken Harrelson
Kenneth Smith Harrelson , nicknamed "The Hawk" due to his distinctive profile, is a former All-Star first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball...
, the White Sox play-by-play announcer, made the call, exclaiming "Alexei! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! History!" as he completed the play.
Grand slam record
He hit his first career grand slam (baseball)|grand slam on July 27, 2008 against the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.
On September 20, 2008, Ramirez hit his third grand slam of the season off of pitcher Brian Bannister
Brian Bannister
Brian Patrick Bannister is a former baseball starting pitcher who most recently pitched for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.-Personal:...
of the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in a 6-4 White Sox win, tying an American League rookie record set by Shane Spencer
Shane Spencer
Michael Shane Spencer is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. In Major League Baseball, he played a total of 538 games for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, and New York Mets, compiling 438 hits, 59 home runs, and 242 RBI...
of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in 1998. It was the White Sox's eleventh grand slam of the season, tying the club record set in 2006.
On September 29, 2008, Ramirez hit his fourth grand slam of the season, setting a major-league single-season record for a rookie, off of Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
pitcher Gary Glover
Gary Glover
John Gary Glover was a Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the SK Wyverns of the Korean Baseball League...
in an 8-2 Sox victory to qualify the Sox for a one-game tiebreaker
2008 American League Central tie-breaker game
The 2008 American League Central tie-breaker game was a one-game playoff for Major League Baseball's American League Central division. The game took place on September 30, 2008 between the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins at US Cellular Field. It was necessary after both teams finished the...
against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
for the AL Central title. This also broke the team record for most grand slams in a single season.
Grand slams
- July 22, 2008 vs. Texas Rangers (Pitcher: Dustin NippertDustin NippertDustin David Nippert is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball...
) - August 17, 2008 at Oakland Athletics (Pitcher: Dan MeyerDan Meyer (pitcher)Daniel Livingston Meyer is a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher, who is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization....
) - September 20, 2008 at Kansas City Royals (Pitcher: Brian BannisterBrian BannisterBrian Patrick Bannister is a former baseball starting pitcher who most recently pitched for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.-Personal:...
) - September 29, 2008 vs. Detroit Tigers (Pitcher: Gary GloverGary GloverJohn Gary Glover was a Major League Baseball pitcher who currently plays for the SK Wyverns of the Korean Baseball League...
) - April 25, 2009 vs. Blue Jays (Pitcher: Shawn CampShawn CampShawn Anthony Camp is an American professional baseball pitcher. Camp stands at 6'0" tall and weighs 200 pounds. He throws and bats right-handed and was born in Fairfax, Virginia.-Early career:...
)