Manny Ramirez still has some pop. In his first at-bat with the Las Aguilas Eagles of the Dominican League on Wednesday night, the 40-year-old blasted a home run over the right field wall in front of an estimated 22,000 fans.
According to ESPN Deportes, there were 20,000 tickets available to the game before it was announced that Ramirez would suit up. The announcement led to a sell-out, and obviously Manny gave the fans what they were looking for on the first pitch he saw.
“I’m not thinking about the big leagues now,” Ramirez said when he joined the Eagles and was asked if his MLB career is over. “Right now I’m thinking of helping the Eagles to win games and then, if any offer, then I’ll think of baseball.”
Prior to Wednesday, Ramirez hadn’t played in the Dominican League since the 1994-1995 season. He homered only twice with the Eagles from 1991-1995, so he’s well on his way to surpassing that mark this year. He may be considered a cheater and a quitter by many fans of Major League Baseball, but Manny is clearly still an icon in his native country.
H/T Deadspin
