Retired All-Star outfielder Manny Ramirez might step into the batter’s box once again. Ramirez, who will turn 48 in May, is eyeing a return to professional baseball with a team in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).
Ramirez broke the news in a recent interview with the Taiwan Times, saying he is hoping to land a roster spot for the upcoming season.
“My goal for 2020, is to find a roster spot in the CPBL,” said Ramirez. “I have been itching to get back in the batter’s box and be able to compete again. I also miss being around teammates and team dinners post-game.”
According to Ramirez, who briefly played in CPBL in 2013, he had other offers but would prefer playing in Taiwan.
“I have had a few offers for teams in the Atlantic League, but am more in favor of experiencing Taiwan and their delicious food,” he added.
Manny Ramirez played in the Major League Baseball for 19 seasons, spending time with Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers among other teams. He made the All-Star selection 12 times while winning two World Series with Red Sox in 2004 and 2007. His career stats in MLB include .312 batting average, 555 home runs, and 1,831 RBIs.
Ramirez decided to retire from MLB in 2011 after testing positive for banned performance-enhancing substances. After that, he went on to play in Dominican Republic, China, and Japan, while unsuccessfully attempting a comeback to the majors. His last professional appearance came in 2017 when he played with Japan’s Kōchi Fighting Dogs.
