Offspring of famous-athlete parents will always face more scrutiny if they follow in the same sport. It simply comes with the territory. But it’s played out, as far as baseball siblings Manny Ramirez Jr. and Lucas Ramirez are concerned.
“All the pressure talk is already done. We’ve been having it since the age of 14. It’s done. It’s out of the head,” said Manny Jr., as he and brother Lucas prepare to make their Victoria HarbourCats debut tonight in the team’s West Coast League home opener against the Wenatchee AppleSox.
They are the sons of gregarious former Major League Baseball star Manny Ramirez, the 2004 World Series MVP with the Boston Red Sox, who hit 555 career home runs in MLB.
The reaction will be nothing but upbeat and positive in the friendly confines of Wilson’s Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park this summer, beginning tonight as the HarbourCats start a three-game series on Caledonia against the AppleSox (5-1). The Ramirez brothers missed the first six games of the season, all on the road, for the 4-2 HarbourCats. But they will be on the road at some point and baseball fans are notorious for heckling opposition batters.
“It just goes in one ear and out the other [on the road],” said Lucas Ramirez.
“When I’m batting, the only thing I’m thinking about is the next pitch, and am not worried about what anybody has to say to me when I’m on the field.”
Those are lessons well absorbed by listening to their father, who will be spending the summer in Victoria, watching his sons.
“My dad taught me to work hard every day. And take in constructive criticism and stay consistent,” said Lucas Ramirez.
Manny Jr. said he took away the same lessons: “My dad taught me to always be disciplined and stay consistent. I want to take baseball as far as God lets me take it.”
Both are hard-hitting outfielders. Six-foot-three, 200-pound Manny Jr., 21, hit .299 with three homers, 10 doubles, 23 RBIs, and a .435 on-base percentage and .495 slugging percentage in 29 games this season with East Los Angeles College.
The prize prospect is Lucas, 18, who is six-foot-three and 200 pounds in high school and committed to the NCAA powerhouse University of Tennessee Volunteers and expected to go high this summer in the 2024 MLB draft. Asked to describe his style, Lucas said he is “serious, but also creative, because I can do a lot of things on the field.”
Summer collegiate leagues such as the WCL are for development between college and university seasons.
“I want to get a lot of at-bats and see a lot of pitching and play good ball with the HarbourCats,” said Lucas. “I want to make it to MLB and go to high-level ball.”
Although they spend a lot of time together, this is the first time the brothers will play together on the same team in seven years.
“All we talked about was baseball and we worked hard every day,” said Lucas.
“We are loving the city and this is going to be a lot of fun this summer. There are going to be a lot of good, bad and funny moments. It is going to be awesome playing with my brother. I work with him every day. I’m looking forward to see us play great ball and to ball up.”
Manny Jr.’s dreams are just as big: “I want to get some work in and see some pitchers and get ready for next season at college and even the draft. Depending on the numbers I put up this year, I’ll either go to [NCAA] Div. 1 or to the draft.”
And always with the right, buoyant attitude, added Manny Jr: “I love playing baseball. I play with a lot of fun and character and hit for power and always have a smile on my face.”
What’s not to smile about with younger bro by his side this summer?
“I’ve not played with him on the same team in seven years, so going to be a great ride and good experience picking each other up and playing the game we love,” said Manny Jr.
