Venezuelan winter league attracts Major Leaguers – MLB Update
Although Venezuela is not a safe haven for anyone these days, the Venezuelan winter league continues to attract Major League Baseball players. Washington Nationals’ catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped a few days ago and it took 51 hours before authorities
rescued the rising star.
Ramos’ baseball career came into doubt after an outbreak rookie season, but his rescue by police authorities has given him another life. The Nationals have advised their catcher to return to the United States, but have left the final decision for Ramos to
make. The player, showing his love for his country and baseball, has decided to fulfil his commitment of playing in the Venezuelan winter league.
Fans in Venezuela rate Ramos as the best baseball talent in the country and thus had a yearning of seeing the player in live action. Living up to their expectations, Ramos turned up for batting practice for the local outfit Aragua Tigers in Maracay, Venezuela.
Sources from Major League Baseball have stressed that Ramos was the first player in history of MLB to have been kidnapped, but the kidnappings in Venezuela have had a direct impact on the families of players.
The issue of security and player safety was brought up in general manager meetings being held in Milwaukee and it has been mutually decided that protection measures should be taken. MLB does provide personal security to players going to Venezuela, but being
one of the most dangerous places in the world, sometimes that does not help either.
“Wilson is determined,” Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo said. “He wants to play several games there. But we are going to get him to Washington. We want to give him a full physical from our medical people, and then determine what we’ll do after that.”
The Nationals made a promising end to this past season and are going all-out to maintain stability in the ballclub for the next season. They are not an active participant in the free agent market thus far and have stressed that apart from a few essential
signings, the management will not flirt with free agents. It will be interesting to see how the roster shapes up for the next season.
Tags: