Tampa Bay Rays bullpen catcher Jean Ramirez dead at 28
The Rays did not disclose any details surrounding the death, which took place on Jan. 10
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tampa Bay Rays bullpen catcher Jean Ramirez died unexpectedly this week, the team announced on social media Tuesday.
Rays Manager Kevin Cash and the team’s president of baseball operators Erik Neander released statements in a tweet, expressing their condolences to the Ramirez family.
"Jean played in our organization and was most recently a bullpen catcher for our major league team. He was a caring teammate and friend," Cash said in the tweet, saying the 28-year-old would be "deeply missed."
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Ramirez’s "biggest heart and most infectious smile" would be remembered, Neander said. He added: "He brought so much passion and energy each day to our clubhouse and bullpen, and his love for the Rays and baseball was evident to all who interacted with him."
A Tampa Bay Rays hat sits on top of a glove in the dugout during a Grapefruit League spring training game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays at Ed Smith Stadium on March 2, 2020, in Sarasota, Florida. (Getty Images)
The Rays did not disclose any details about the death, which happened Monday, FOX 13 of Tampa Bay reported.
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— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) January 11, 2022
Ramirez, who grew up in Puerto Rico before attending high school in Texas, was said to be overjoyed after the Rays drafted him in the 28th round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft. He previously described the Rays’ appearance at the 2020 World Series as "the best moment" of his life, WTSP-TV in Tampa Bay reported.
Ramirez became the Rays' bullpen catcher in 2019.