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He’s about to turn 45 but you wouldn’t know that by watching his sweet swing. Manny Ramirez is still playing baseball professionally in Japan and loving every minute of it.
Signed for the 2017 season with the Kochi Island Fighting Dogs, Ramirez has yet to fully retire and put an end to his career - 19 seasons in the majors with the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays. It’s hard to believe that Manny last played for Boston in 2008.
The independent league may not be the highest level of competition but Manny is crushing it nevertheless. Which you’d expect a Hall of Fame caliber player to be capable of even in his mid 40s.
Manny Ramirez hit .460 (29-63), 20 RBI in 1st 1/2 of Shikoku season, team is now negotiating for a 2nd half return https://t.co/Sg9f0UpqPO
— NPB on reddit (@NPB_Reddit) May 28, 2017
According to a translation of a story in Yahoo! Japan, Manny said that “...Kochi was like my home Kochi is the best! I would like to return to America first, I want to go back to the family and relax with my family, if possible I would like to return (to Japan).”
Could Manny show up in MLB one more time?