Seoul: Former Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Manny Ramirez arrived in Seoul on Friday to promote upcoming exhibition games involving former players from MLB, South Korea, and Japan. A South Korean promoter, Legend United, announced Friday that Ramirez, a 12-time All-Star and the 2004 World Series MVP with the Boston Red Sox, landed in South Korea earlier in the day, along with fellow ex-big leaguer, Luis Alicea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, on Sunday, Ramirez and Alicea will visit Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul to sign an agreement with the Korea Pro Baseball Players Alumni Association, which will send its members to the exhibition games. The games are scheduled to take place in South Korea and Japan sometime in November or December.
Ramirez and Alicea will hold a press conference after the signing ceremony Sunday. Ramirez will then step into the box for the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Korea Baseball Organization game scheduled at the dome between the Hanwha Eagles and the Kiwoom Heroes.
Organizers have stated that more than 50 former MLB players, including Ramirez, Alicea, and former American League MVP Miguel Tejada, have shown interest in participating in the offseason games. They also mentioned that Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith will be on the coaching staff for the ex-MLB players.
Among the players, Ramirez, 52, brings significant experience. He had 555 home runs and 1,831 RBIs over 2,302 games in his 19-year career. He spent the first eight years with the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) but it was during his eight seasons with the Red Sox that Ramirez attained his cult hero status. He helped the Red Sox end their 86-year World Series title drought in 2004. In a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, Ramirez batted .412/.500/.588 with a homer and four RBIs. The Red Sox won another title in 2007. Ramirez later played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago White Sox, and the Tampa Bay Rays.