Boston Red Sox fans may recognize a United States opponent to start the World Baseball Classic.
Lucas Ramirez will represent Brazil in the WBC, starting with a matchup against Team USA on Friday night. The Los Angeles Angels outfielder will don No. 24, which Manny Ramirez wore throughout his legendary career with the Boston Red Sox.
While the Red Sox icon is from the Dominican Republic, Lucas’s mother, Juliana, was born and raised in São Paulo. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play for the country, per MLB.com’s Martín Gallegos.
“It means a lot,” Ramirez said. “I get to showcase my abilities for Team Brazil and represent her. I’m not only representing Brazil in baseball. I’m representing the whole country and showing love to the culture.”
The Angels drafted Lucas Ramirez in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB Draft, and he registered a .772 OPS in their farm last year. Ramirez, a natural righty, learned to bat left-handed at the instruction of his nine-time Silver Slugger dad.
“He just made me a lefty when I was little and I just stuck to it,” Ramirez said. “He was my hitting coach my whole life. I didn’t go to anybody else. I just trusted him. I tried to implement some of the stuff he did when he played, just from the left side. Nothing different.”
Ramirez is off to a good start for Team Brazil. The 20-year-old homered off ace Jacob deGrom in an exhibition contest against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.
This year will mark Brazil’s first WBC appearance since 2013, and they’re an underdog to advance beyond a five-country Pool B also featuring the United States. However, Ramirez warned skeptics not to overlook them.
“We’re underrated,” Ramirez said. “A lot of people think [teams] are just going to walk all over us, but nah. We’ve got some power. We’ve got strength. We’re going to fight.”
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