{{short description|Venezuelan baseball player (born 1974)}} {{for|the former baseball shortstop|Alexei Ramírez}} {{family name hatnote|Ramírez|Quiñónez|lang=Spanish}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Alex Ramírez | image = 20130406 Alexander Ramon Ramirez, outfielder of the of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars,at Meiji Jingu Stadium.JPG | image_size = 250px | caption = Ramirez celebrating his 2000 career hits in 2013 | team = | number = 80 | position = Outfielder / Manager | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df =y|1974|10|3}} | birth_place = Caracas, Venezuela | bats = Right | throws = Right | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = 19 September | debutyear = 1998 | debutteam = Cleveland Indians | debut2league = NPB | debut2date = 30 March | debut2year = 2001 | debut2team = Yakult Swallows | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = 27 September | finalyear = 2000 | finalteam = Pittsburgh Pirates | final2league = NPB | final2date = 8 October | final2year = 2013 | final2team = Yokohama DeNA BayStars | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .259 | stat2label = Hits | stat2value = 86 | stat3label = Home runs | stat3value = 12 | stat4label = Runs batted in | stat4value = 48 | stat2league = NPB | stat21label = Batting average | stat21value = .301 | stat22label = Hits | stat22value = 2,017 | stat23label = Home runs | stat23value = 380 | stat24label = Runs batted in | stat24value = 1,272 | stat25label = Games managed | stat25value = 692 | stat26label = Managerial record | stat26value = 336–336 | stat27label = Winning % | stat27value = {{Winning percentage|336|337}} | teams = '''As a player:''' *Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|1998}}–{{mlby|2000}}) *Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2000}}) *Yakult Swallows/Tokyo Yakult Swallows ({{npby|2001}}–{{npby|2007}}) *Yomiuri Giants ({{npby|2008}}–{{npby|2011}}) *Yokohama DeNA BayStars ({{npby|2012}}–{{npby|2013}}) '''As manager:''' *Yokohama DeNA BayStars ({{npby|2016}}–{{npby|2020}}) | awards = '''NPB''' * 2× Central League MVP ({{npby|2008}}–{{npby|2009}}) * 8× NPB All-Star (2002–2003, 2007–2012) * 4× Best Nine Award (2003, 2007–2009) * 2× Japan Series champion (2001, 2009) * Central League Climax Series MVP (2008) * Central League Batting Champion ({{npby|2009}}) * 2x Central League Home Run Leader ({{npby|2003}}, {{npby|2010}}) * 4× Central League RBI Leader ({{npby|2003}}, {{npby|2007}}, {{npby|2008}}, {{npby|2010}}) * 3x Central League Hits Leader ({{npby|2003}}, {{npby|2007}}, {{npby|2009}}) | hoflink = Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame | hoftype = Japanese | hofdate = 2023 | hofvote = | hofmethod = }} '''Alexander Ramón Ramírez Quiñónez''' (born 3 October 1974), nicknamed {{nihongo|'''Ramichan'''|ラミちゃん}}, is a Venezuelan-born former professional baseball outfielder known for his time in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He holds the all time hit record for a foreign player in NPB with 2,017 and is the only foreigner to reach the 2,000 mark. He was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame in 2023 and the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title=Félix Hernández, Alex Ramírez y Magglio Ordóñez electos al Salón de la Fama del Beisbol Venezolano |url=https://lvbp.com/noticias/felix-hernandez-alex-ramirez-y-magglio-ordonez-electos-al-salon-de-la-fama-del-beisbol-venezolano/ |website=LVBP.com |date=August 18, 2025 |accessdate=August 18, 2025 |language=spanish}}</ref>
Before playing in Japan, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians (1998–2000) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2000).
He managed the Yokohama BayStars from 2016 to 2020.
==Professional baseball career==
=== Major League Baseball === Ramírez signed with the Cleveland Indians as an international free agent in July 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alex Ramirez Intl, MLB, Minor League Baseball Statistics |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/16902/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=The Baseball Cube}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> In 1995, he was a replacement player during the ongoing strike for Cleveland, playing in one spring training game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hoynes |first=Paul |date=1995-03-30 |title=Tigers drop Diaz but adds power hitter and pitcher |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-tigers-drop-diaz-but-ad/173164308/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |work=Cleveland Plain Dealer |page=2-D}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Zolecki |first=Todd |date=2006-08-13 |title=On baseball: There aren't many strikes against 1995 scabs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-on-baseball-t/173164345/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |page=C-6}}</ref> He was named the team's 1998 Minor League Player of the Year, getting the Lou Boudreau Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/awards/Minor_League_Player_of_the_Year_by_Team.shtml |title=Minor League Player of the Year by Team |publisher=The Baseball Cube |access-date=25 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016231321/http://www.thebaseballcube.com/awards/Minor_League_Player_of_the_Year_by_Team.shtml |archive-date=16 October 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cubs.scout.com/a.z?s=260&p=2&c=706239 |title=Cabrera, Laffey Receive '07 Honors |publisher=Scout.com |date=28 November 2007 |access-date=25 July 2011}}</ref>
Ramírez made his MLB debut with Cleveland in 1998. On 28 July 2000, the Indians traded Ramírez and Enrique Wilson to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Wil Cordero.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://old.post-gazette.com/Pirates/20000729buctradesports3.asp | title=Pirates ship Cordero to Indians for Alex Ramirez, Wilson | date=29 July 2000 | newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | first=Paul | last=Meyer | access-date=5 November 2017 | archive-date=1 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501205057/http://old.post-gazette.com/Pirates/20000729buctradesports3.asp | url-status=dead }}</ref> Across three MLB seasons, Ramírez batted .259 with 12 home runs, 48 runs batted in (RBI), 38 runs scored, 17 doubles, three triples, and three stolen bases in 135 games.
===Nippon Professional Baseball=== After the 2000 season, Ramírez signed with the Yakult Swallows (2001–2007) and was their cleanup hitter. During his final season with the Swallows he set the Central League record for most base hits in a single season with 204. (This record did not stand long, as Hanshin Tigers outfielder Matt Murton surpassed Ramírez's tally en route to finishing the 2010 season with 214 hits.)
The 2007 season was Ramírez's last with the Swallows, who did offer him the multi-year contract he sought. Instead, the outfielder signed with the Yomiuri Giants for the 2008 season. Ramírez quickly flourished with his new team. In 2008, he led the Central League with 125 RBI while hitting .319 (sixth in the league) with 45 home runs (second). He also hit two home runs in Game 2 of the Japan Series, including one in the bottom of the ninth to win Game 2. At the end of the 2008 season, Ramírez won the Central League MVP Award. He was the third Venezuelan player to be so honored in Japanese baseball, joining Roberto Petagine (Central League, 2001) and Alex Cabrera (Pacific League, 2002).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://impresodigital.el-nacional.com/ediciones/2008/11/22/N3_3N5.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715115425/http://impresodigital.el-nacional.com/ediciones/2008/11/22/N3_3N5.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2012 |title=Alexander Ramírez elegido el Jugador Más Valioso |access-date=22 November 2008 |agency=Associated Press |date=22 November 2008 |work=El Nacional }}</ref>
After playing eight seasons in NPB, Ramirez obtained FA Right in 2008 and was no longer counted as a foreign player for roster purposes. {{As of|2017}}, only four foreign players in NPB history had accrued enough service time to achieve the classification.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}
On 6 April 2013, Ramirez hit a home run to record his 2,000 career hit in the NPB, becoming the 42nd player and the first foreign player to accomplish the feat. This accomplishment also earned Ramírez an invitation to the Meikyukai, a private club recognizing Japan's elite players. He was the first Western player to be so honored.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|last=Coskrey |first=Jason |title=Ramirez possibly top foreign-born player ever in NPB |date=9 April 2013 |newspaper=The Japan Times |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/09/baseball/ramirez-possibly-top-foreign-born-player-ever-in-npb/#.UWWJZqK7lIk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412050711/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/04/09/baseball/ramirez-possibly-top-foreign-born-player-ever-in-npb/ |archive-date=12 April 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lefton |first=Brad |date=7 July 2012 |title=Where No Westerner in Japan Has Gone |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/sports/baseball/alex-ramirez-with-2000-hits-awaits-honor-for-japanese-milestone.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112014000/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/sports/baseball/alex-ramirez-with-2000-hits-awaits-honor-for-japanese-milestone.html?_r=1 |archive-date=12 November 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>
=== Baseball Challenge League === Ramírez spent the 2014 season as a player-coach with the Gunma Diamond Pegasus of Japan's Baseball Challenge League. In 45 games, he hit .305 with 7 home runs and 38 RBI.<ref>Hongo, Jun. [https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/10/15/longtime-baseball-star-alex-ramirez-retires-from-the-diamond/ "Longtime Baseball Star Alex Ramirez Retires From the Diamond,"] ''Wall Street Journal'' blog (15 October 2014).</ref> He retired after the 2014 season and became the Diamond Pegasus' senior director.<ref>Gen. [http://yakyubaka.com/2014/10/29/10292014-alex-ramirez-named-gunma-diamond-pegasus-senior-director/ "Alex Ramirez named Gunma Diamond Pegasus Senior Director,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107025745/http://yakyubaka.com/2014/10/29/10292014-alex-ramirez-named-gunma-diamond-pegasus-senior-director/ |date=7 November 2017 }} Yakyubaka.com (29 October 2014).</ref>
===Coaching=== In the middle of the 2015, Ramírez joined the Orix Buffaloes as an advisor, mentoring younger players.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/06/28/baseball/japanese-baseball/ramirez-happy-back-npb/|title=Ramirez happy to be back in NPB|date=28 June 2015|access-date=20 October 2015}}</ref> In October 2015 he was named as the BayStars manager for the 2016 season, replacing Kiyoshi Nakahata who resigned at the end of the 2015 season due to the team's poor performance.<ref name="JT2015">{{cite web |date=19 October 2015 |title=BayStars name Ramirez as new manager |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/10/19/baseball/japanese-baseball/baystars-name-ramirez-new-manager/ |access-date=20 October 2015}}</ref> In his first season managing, the team finished 69–71–3, finishing third in the Central League, and advancing to the Climax Series, where the BayStars defeated the Yomiuri Giants, 2–1 in the first round before falling to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, 4–1, in the league championship round. In his second year as manager, the BayStars reached the 2017 Japan Series, but lost to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, 4 games to 2. Ramírez coached the team through the 2020 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Jim |date=2020-10-23 |title=Ramirez on way out |url=https://jballallen.com/ramirez-out-report/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=jballallen.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Ramírez founded and coached Japan Breeze, which competed in the 2025 Caribbean Series. The team went 0–4 and was no-hit in a mercy rule loss in the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karasawa |first=Yuri |date=2025-02-10 |title=A Japanese Team in the Caribbean Series? |url=https://japanball.com/japanese-baseball-news/npb-newsletter/a-japanese-team-in-the-caribbean-series/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=JapanBall}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 5, 2025 |title=Venezuela's Cardenales de Lara No-Hit Japan Breeze In 10-0 Mercy Rule Win. |url=https://worldbaseball.com/caribbean-series-venezuelas-cardenales-de-lara-no-hit-japan-breeze-in-10-0-mercy-rule-win/ |accessdate=February 5, 2025 |publisher=World Baseball}}</ref>
==Career statistics== thumb|Ramirez in 2012. {| class="wikitable" !colspan="17" style="background:#ff9933;"|<span style="color:white;">Nippon Professional Baseball</span> |- !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="42"|Year !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="34"|Age !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="62"|Team !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="34"|G !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="34"|AB !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="34"|R !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="34"|H !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="28"|2B !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="28"|3B !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="28"|HR !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="34"|TB !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="34"|RBI !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="28"|SB !style="background:#ebe7e4;" width="42"|AVG |-align=center |{{npby|2001}} || 27 || Yakult || 138 || 510 || 60 || 143 || 23 || 0 || 29 || 253 || 88 || 1 || .280 |-align=center |{{npby|2002}} || 28 || Yakult || 139 || 539 || 65 || 159 || 25 || 0 || 24 || 256 || 92 || 0 || .295 |-align=center |{{npby|2003}} || 29 || Yakult || 140 || 567 || 105 || 189 || 34 || 3 || 40 || 349 || 124 || 4 || .333 |-align=center |{{npby|2004}} || 30 || Yakult || 129 || 525 || 79 || 160 || 30 || 2 || 31 || 287 || 110 || 2 || .305 |-align=center |{{npby|2005}} || 31 || Yakult || 146 || 596 || 70 || 168 || 19 || 1 || 32 || 285 || 104 || 5 || .282 |-align=center |{{npby|2006}} || 32 || Yakult || 146 || 603 || 79 || 161 || 28 || 2 || 26 || 271 || 112 || 0 || .267 |-align=center |{{npby|2007}} || 33 || Yakult || 144 || 594 || 80 || 204 || 41 || 3 || 29 || 338 || 122 || 0 || .343 |-align=center |{{npby|2008}} || 34 || Yomiuri || 144 || 548 || 84 || 175 || 28 || 0 || 45 || 338 || 125 || 1 || .319 |-align=center |{{npby|2009}} || 35 || Yomiuri || 144 || 577 || 66 || 186 || 35 || 0 || 31 || 314 || 103 || 4 || .322 |-align=center |{{npby|2010}} || 36 || Yomiuri || 144 || 566 || 93 || 172 || 28 || 0 || 49 || 347 || 129 || 1 || .304 |-align=center |{{npby|2011}} || 37 || Yomiuri || 137 || 477 || 39 || 133 || 12 || 1 || 23 || 216 || 73 || 2 || .279 |-align=center |{{npby|2012}} || 38 || DeNA || 137 || 476 || 40 || 143 || 25 || 0 || 19 || 225 || 76 || 0 || .300 |-align=center |{{npby|2013}} || 39 || DeNA || 56 || 130 || 6 || 24 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 30 || 14 || 0 || .185 |- | | |'''Total''' |1,744 |6,708 |866 |2,017 |330 |12 |380 |3,709 |1,272 |20 | |} ''Statistics current as of 21 November 2014'' thumb|Ramirez in 2012.
==Business career== In February 2013, Ramirez, his wife, and his son opened a restaurant in Tokyo called Ramichan Cafe, serving the cuisine of Puerto Rico, where his wife grew up.<ref>{{cite web |author= |title=Álex Ramírez inauguró restaurante en Japón |url=http://www.liderendeportes.com/Noticias/Beisbol/Alex-Ramirez-inauguro-restaurante-en-Japon.aspx |access-date=30 April 2013 |website=Lider en Deportes |language=es}}</ref> The restaurant has since closed.
Ramirez has spoken about his faith, saying, "I believe [continuing to play baseball] is my desire, but it's not my life. God has already blessed me with this career, and whatever God has planned for me, I will be happy to follow that, whether or not I play baseball again. It's not what I want; it's what God wants for me."<ref>{{cite web|title=Life's Crossroads|date=9 May 2014 |url=http://www.sportsspectrum.com/articles/2014/05/09/lifes-crossroads/}}</ref>
In January 2019, Ramirez became a Japanese citizen.<ref>{{cite web|title=横浜DeNAベイスターズ on Twitter: 昨日から日本人です！|url=https://twitter.com/ydb_yokohama/status/1088380572567629829?s=21}}</ref>
==See also== * List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Alex Ramírez}} * {{Baseball stats |mlb=150352 |espn= |br=r/ramiral02 |fangraphs=1010668 |brm=ramire002ale}} * [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/Pramia002.htm Retrosheet] * {{Japanese baseball|id=1354}}
{{S-start}} {{S-ach}} {{succession box|title=Indians' Minor League Player of the Year<br>(the Lou Boudreau Award)|years=1998|before=Sean Casey|after=Scott Morgan}} {{s-end}}
{{Central League MVPs}} {{Yokohama DeNA BayStars managers}} {{Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame}} {{Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame}} {{Portal bar|Biography|Baseball|Venezuela}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramirez, Alex}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Águilas del Zulia players Category:Bakersfield Blaze players Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Category:Burlington Indians players (1986–2006) Category:Canton-Akron Indians players Category:Cardenales de Lara players Category:Caribes de Oriente players Category:Cleveland Indians players Category:Columbus RedStixx players Category:Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Category:Japanese Christians Category:Venezuelan emigrants to Japan Category:Kinston Indians players Category:Major League Baseball outfielders Category:Major League Baseball players from Venezuela Category:20th-century Venezuelan sportsmen Category:Managers of baseball teams in Japan Category:Nippon Professional Baseball left fielders Category:Nippon Professional Baseball MVP Award winners Category:Naturalized citizens of Japan Category:Baseball players from Caracas Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players Category:Baseball players from Winter Haven, Florida Category:Tokyo Yakult Swallows players Category:Venezuelan Christians Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in Japan Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States Category:Yakult Swallows players Category:Yokohama DeNA BayStars players Category:Yokohama DeNA BayStars managers Category:Yomiuri Giants players Category:Major League Baseball replacement players