Hanley Ramirez’s WBC Status In Jeopardy

By Luis Vasquez 3/1/2017

Red Sox slugger, Hanley Ramirez’s quest to help his native Dominican Republic to defend its title in the upcoming World Baseball Classic may now be up in the air. Ramirez is currently experiencing soreness in his right throwing shoulder, leaving manager John Farrell to ponder what may be best for the team.

“As of right now, I can’t sit here and say he’s not going,” said Farrell to the media, according to Tom Britton of the Providence Journal.

“Once a player agrees to go, we can’t stand in the middle to prevent him.”

Ramirez is scheduled to depart Red Sox spring training to report to his national team by the end of the week in Miami. He was scratched from first base this past Monday and put into the DH spot to help prevent injury to his shoulder.

“I don’t know,” said Ramirez to the media. “They haven’t told me anything. I’m just going to go there [to Miami] and see.”

There is no denying his commitment to his country, but for the first time in his Red Sox career, Ramirez is entering the season as a cornerstone player. He is being counted on to help make up for the void left by recently retired, David Ortiz. But for now, as time ticks towards the end of the week, all parties will continue to play the situation by ear.

The World Baseball Classic is set to begin March 5 from South Korea.