Alexei Ramírez Reinforces Cuba's Champions and Returns to Diablos Rojos

Several years after his time with the organization, former Major League Baseball player Alexei Ramírez will return to the home of the Diablos Rojos, this time as a reinforcement player for Cuba's reigning champions in the third Americas Baseball Champions League.

Ramírez is featured on the Matanzas roster announced Monday by the National Commission, as the team prepares to compete in the continental tournament scheduled from March 24 to 29 at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium in Mexico City — the home ballpark of the Diablos Rojos.

Following his second appearance in the World Baseball Classic, the seasoned infielder may be experiencing yet another farewell moment after leaving his mark on Cuba's National Series, Major League Baseball, and leagues in the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

Born on September 22, 1981, in Pinar del Río, Ramírez joined the Diablos Rojos in 2018. Among the highlights of his tenure with the club was his participation in the friendly series Unidos por la Pasión — "United by Passion" — held that same year in Cuba against the national, Western, and Eastern squads, as well as Mexico's Guerreros de Oaxaca.

In addition to Ramírez, the Matanzas Cocodrilos coaching staff has added players who took part in the preparatory series against Nicaragua ahead of the national team's World Baseball Classic campaign, including catcher Andy Cosme, infielder Luis Vicente Mateo, and pitchers Frank Abel Álvarez, Raymond Figueredo, and Brander Guevara.

As reigning champions of the 64th edition of Cuba's National Series, Matanzas will make their Champions League debut in the second round of play against CTBC Brothers (Chinese Taipei), before facing Dantos de Managua (Nicaragua), the Kane County Cougars (United States), and the host Diablos Rojos. The two top teams from the round-robin stage will meet in the championship final on Sunday, March 29.

In the inaugural edition of the tournament, the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the United States claimed the title, while the host Diablos Rojos lifted the trophy in the most recent edition.

Matanzas Cocodrilos — Americas Champions League Roster:

Catchers: Andrys Pérez and Andy Cosme.

Infielders: Yariel Duque, Juan Miguel Martínez, Luis Vicente Mateo, Aníbal Medina, Adrián Jesús Pérez, Yulieski Remón, Alexei Ramírez, and Luis Ángel Sánchez.

Outfielders: Hangelo Videt, Esteban Terry, Eduardo Blanco, José Amaury Noroña, and Brayan Peña.

Pitchers: Luis Manuel Hernández, Frank Abel Álvarez, Raymond Figueredo, Shaiel Cruz, Armando Dueñas, Noelvis Entenza, Yosney García, Brander Guevara, Silvio Iturralde, Rafael Orlando Perdomo, Brian Reyes, Yamichel Pérez, and Yoennis Yera.