Manny Ramirez Hits Home Run, Takes 30 Seconds to Round Bases (Video)
By Eric Bynum
After failing to make a comeback last season with the Oakland Athletics, Manny Ramirez headed overseas to continue playing baseball. He landed with the EDA Rhinos of the CPBL in Taiwan. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Manny Ramirez is still 40-years old and no longer making millions in the big leagues. Instead he is donning the purple and yellow of the EDA Rhinos of the Chinese Professional Baseball League, which happens to be in Taiwan. It has been more than two years since he last played in a Major League game with the Tampa Bay Rays back in early 2011, but it appears he is still having fun playing the game.
With the Rhinos, Manny is hitting .322 and is tied for the league lead in home runs after his third on Tuesday night.
Manny Ramirez Stats:
| G | PA | RBI | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | DP | SF | SB | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 63 | 13 | 9 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0.322 | 0.525 |
The video of his last home run, coming in the 11th inning of a game on Tuesday night in Taiwan, is one of the best I have seen in a long time, for many reasons.
Manny doesn’t hit a moonshot or hit it out of the ballpark. Instead he simply rips a fastball down the left field line. However, the home run gave the Rhinos a two-run lead in the top of the 11th inning and the place went nuts. Add in that the Rhinos opponent, the Brother Elephants, are wearing uniforms reminiscent of the Pirates “We Are Family”-era. Toss in an announcer who goes nuts as Ramirez slowly trots around the bases on what looks like a huge softball field, and we have the start of something good.
Ramirez takes a good 30 seconds to get around the bases, which might be a factor of his age as well, as the announcer goes nuts with a few English phrases he is clearly learning, like “goodbye” and “two-run home run”, while the crowd goes crazy cheering. But it’s something that you just have to see for yourself, so let’s take a look at the video.
As you watch, pay close attention at the 1:27 mark. Do you think Manny ever touched the plate?
As Manny continues to play ball in Taiwan, we will continue to bring you updates on how he is doing.