One week after his dramatic rescue from kidnappers in the Venezuelan countryside, Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos returned to Washington on Friday for a medical check-up by team doctors.
In a brief media session in the Nats’ clubhouse afterwards – his jersey hanging Ramos issued short statements in both Spanish and English thanking fans and team personnel for their support during a traumatic time. Team doctors issued a clean bill of health both physically and mentally, according to Washington general manager Mike Rizzo.
“Thanks to the fans for their prayers and their support,” said Ramos, whose abduction lasted 50 hours before Venezuelan security forces rescued him in a dramatic shootout. “I’m happy to be here, happy to be with my family. See you in spring training.”
When they were finished speaking, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman came around the corner fresh from a workout at the stadium and gave Ramos a bear hug as the two shared words. Ramos also shook hands and hugged Washington second-base prospect Stephen Lombardozzi, a Baltimore-area native who spends his offseason in the area and received a late-season recall from the minors in September.
Ramos will continue to play in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League, according to Rizzo. In an interview before the end of the season, both Ramos and teammate Jesus Flores, his fellow Venezuelan, made clear how much it means to them to play in their home country in the winter. It keeps them in shape for spring training in North America and allows friends and family to see them play in the raucous atmosphere that prevails in that eight-team league.
“They’re going to play there. That’s where they live. They’re going to go home to their families and they’re going to play baseball in Venezuela because that’s what they do,” Rizzo said. “It’s their national game. It’s their national pastime. They want to play in front of their home crowd. They feel that they have an allegiance to play in that league because that league has done so much for them. They’re going to play in it and we have to figure out a way to allow them to play in it safely and for them to get back to spring training safe and not have to worry about being kidnapped.”
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