Ramirez selected to MLB Futures Game
June 22, 2005 - Eastern League (EL1)
Portland Sea Dogs News Release
Portland, Maine- Portland Sea Dogs shortstop Hanley Ramirez was selected today to play in the 2005 XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game in Detroit, Michigan on Sunday, July 10th. In addition, Sea Dogs manager Todd Claus was selected as a coach for the All-Star event. The team is selected by Major League Baseball in conjunction with Baseball America.
The XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game features the top prospects in Minor League Baseball, with a team of U.S.-born players competing against players from around the world, as a showcase of the great international talent throughout baseball. Every Major League organization is represented with at least one player. Ramirez and Claus will be members of the World team.
Ramirez entered the 2005 season rated as the # 1 prospect in the Red Sox organization for the third consecutive year by Baseball America and as the #10 prospect in all of minor league baseball. Baseball America also rated Ramirez as the "Best Athlete," "Fastest Base Runner," "Best Defensive Infielder," and "Best Infield Arm" in the Red Sox minor league system in 2005. Ramirez was named the Red Sox Base Runner of the Month for May 2005. In 52 games with the Sea Dogs in 2005, Ramirez is hitting .274 with 8 doubles, a league leading 7 triples, two homeruns, 20 RBI, and 15 stolen bases.
Ramirez was signed by the Red Sox as non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2000. The 21 year-old from Santo Domingo, Dominic Republic was named the Boston Red Sox Minor League Player of the Year for Single-A Sarasota in 2004. He was selected to the 2004 Florida State League All-Star Game. Ramirez was added to the Red Sox 40-man roster on November 20, 2004.
Todd Claus has led the Sea Dogs to Northern Division best record of 37-30, including a ten game winning streak to open the 2005 campaign. Claus is in his first season as the Sea Dogs skipper replacing Ron Johnson who was promoted to Triple-A. The 2005 season is the fourth season as a minor league manager for Claus, the second in the Red Sox organization, and the first at the Double-A level. Claus, 35, managed the Single-A Sarasota Red Sox in 2004 and posted a 76-61 (.555) record.
Prior to joining the Red Sox organization in 2004, Claus spent his entire baseball career in the Anaheim Angels system where he served as a minor league player, scout, hitting coach, and manager.
In addition to being named a coach for the Futures Game, Claus will manage the Eastern League Northern Division All-Star team for the 2005 Hannaford Eastern League All-Star game which will take place on July 13th at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine.
The Taco Bell All-Star Sunday is the first of three days of All-Star events at Comerica Park in Detroit culminating with the 76th Major League Baseball All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 12th.
Last season Sea Dogs pitcher Juan Perez was selected to the World Team. In 2003 Kevin Youkilis, Jorge De La Rosa, and Sea Dogs Manager Ron Johnson were all named to the Futures Game. Other Sea Dogs to be named to the event were A.J. Burnett and Pablo Ozuna in 1999.
Complete Futures Game rosters are available at www.minorleaguebaseball.com.
The Sea Dogs continue their homestand with the Trenton Thunder (Yankees) tonight at 7:00 PM. The series concludes Thursday night with a 6:00 PM start at Hadlock. Portland makes a trip to Norwich to take on the Navigators (Giants) over the weekend before returning to Hadlock on Tuesday to begin a six game homestand against the Altoona Curve (Pirates and Norwich Navigators (Giants). Tickets to most regular season home games are available and can be purchased by calling the Sea Dogs ticket Office at 207-879-9800 or on-line at www.seadogs.com. The following games are currently Sold Out; June 23, July 3, and the Eastern League All-Star Game.
Eastern League Stories from June 22, 2005
- Baysox Drop Third Straight to Curve, 8-4 - Chesapeake Baysox
- Acuna Grand Slam Gives Fisher Cats dramatic 6-5 victory over Erie - New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Evans two homers help Curve grab share of first place - Altoona Curve
- Sea Dogs donate $8,000.00 in support of Maine's military bases - Portland Sea Dogs
- Thunder fall, 2-0... Drop a game and a half out of first place - Trenton Thunder
- Two-out hits help B-Mets beat New Britain - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Pedroia promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket - Portland Sea Dogs
- Thunder OF Cabrera selected to Futures Game - Trenton Thunder
- Ramirez selected to MLB Futures Game - Portland Sea Dogs
- Petit Selected To Participate In 2005 Futures Game - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Construction begins on Gordon Hoodak Stadium at Lauer's Park - Reading Fightin Phils
- DeMent Joins Senators - Harrisburg Senators
- Pedroia promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket - Portland Sea Dogs
- Safe at home: Navigators and City of Norwich reach lease agreement - Connecticut Defenders
- Binghamton Mets game notes - Binghamton Rumble Ponies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
