If Jose Ramirez became one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball, it was because he was under a certain amount of pressure to perform. The Cleveland Guardians shared a rather special story about their star player on Wednesday.
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According to team analysts from Bally Sports Network, the 30-year-old athlete played in the Dominican Republic under the threat of a machete located behind the plate. Baseball fans in this country are known for their passion, but sometimes it went too far.
“At 13, Jose Ramirez was playing in an adult betting league to earn money for his family. In certain circumstances, regulars are betting on players making a profit. If [les joueurs] were not producing, they were being chased home by punters with machetes and guns,” the Guardians confirmed in a Twitter post.
As a 13-year-old, José Ramírez played in a gambling league with adults to earn money for his family.
In certain circumstances, bettors would bet on a player to achieve a positive outcome. If they didn’t get through, they would be chased home by players with machetes and rifles. pic.twitter.com/QwSqmhT41Z
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 5, 2023
In addition to physical threats, the players were also the target of violent comments from fans and multiple attempts at intimidation.
This season, Ramirez has struck from the vault in all seven of Cleveland’s games. In 2022, he won a fourth career Silver Stick, including hitting an American League high of 44 doubles.