Manny Ramirez

Manny Ramirez

Manuel Arístides "Manny" Ramírez Onelcida (born May 30, 1972) is a Dominican-American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter. He is currently an unsigned free agent, following a 2nd suspension for violating Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy.

Ramirez is recognized for great batting skill and power, a nine-time Silver Slugger and one of 25 players to hit 500 career home runs. His 21 grand slams are third all-time, 29 post-season home runs the most in big league history. He appeared in 12 All-Star Games, a streak of eleven consecutive beginning in 1998 including every season that he played with the Boston Red Sox.

Ramirez was allegedly among a group of 104 major league players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs during 2003. In 2009 he was suspended 50 games for violating baseball's drug policy by taking human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a women's fertility drug. According to steroid dealer Victor Conte, hCG is often used to restart natural testosterone production after a steroid cycle.

In the spring of 2011 Ramirez was informed by MLB of another violation its drug policy, retiring on April 8 rather than face a 100-game suspension. Later that year he requested reinstatement, granted on December 10 with the stipulation he serve a 50-game suspension if signed.

Ramirez subsequently accepted a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics AAA affiliate. In 16 games he failed to demonstrate his former batting prowess and requested and was given his outright release on June 16, 2012.