Pinar del Río, March 20 (ACN)-- After 17 years Alexei Ramírez returned on Wednesday to the Capitán San Luis stadium wearing the colors of the Vegueros de Pinar del Río team, in front of thousands of fans who cheered him as if he had never left.
It was a dream come true -as he expressed it to the press-, because a few days ago he had asked the people of Pinar del Rio to attend the confrontation with the team of Las Tunas, the first at home in the current National Baseball Series (SNB); and the headquarters of the pativerdes was full of people.
Although he did not stand out offensively, Alexei is the spark plug of a team that aspires to improve the result of the previous season and qualify.
We hope to continue winning," he said after the game, which favored the locals 2-1 and was decided in extra innings.
His uncle was in the stands; "the only one in the family who played ball and for whom I became a baseball player; and although he is going through a difficult time, he continues to support me", he said.
This is a very combative team with a lot of energy, which gives everything on the field to give a good show to the people of Pinar del Río, said who remained for nine seasons in the Major Leagues.
Many of them are twice their age, and that gives me more desire to play, Ramírez, 42, nicknamed The Cuban Missile for his performance in the Big Top, told the Cuban News Agency.
From a technical point of view I have to make adjustments in speed and little by little, in two or three games I am ready,” he said. At first base I started out a bit insecure because of the toughness of the mascot, but I'm now more relaxed.
Regarding the support of the star Luis Giraldo Casanova, glory of the sport in Cuba, he explained that he asked him to make some corrections, because of "his experience, because he has been one of the best baseball players in the country and I have always asked him for advice, not only here but when I was in the United States I also called him; and for me it is a help," he said.
Alexei Ramírez found a cast that in the last SNB made 102 errors and finished in 14th place; but he assured that they can be corrected during the course of the championship.
In the MLB he played for the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres, with an offensive average of .270, a rookie record for home runs with the bases loaded, two Silver Bats and his presence in an All-Star Game.
The Pyrenees, as he is also known, in seven seasons in the largest of the Antilles, had 827 hits in 2,478 times at bat, including 90 homers.
