Sons of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez To Play Summer Baseball in MA
The state of Massachusetts has become a well-established hotspot for summer league baseball. Future prospects from all over the world descend on the Bay State to compete in semi-pro and…
The state of Massachusetts has become a well-established hotspot for summer league baseball. Future prospects from all over the world descend on the Bay State to compete in semi-pro and top collegiate leagues. This year the sons of former Red Sox legends David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez are among the names of young players who spend their summers here.
Brewster Whitecaps
2021 Cape Cod Baseball League Champions will have their season home opener on Saturday, June 10. Playing third base for the Brewster Whitecaps this summer will be D'Angelo Ortiz. He, of course, is the son of Big Papi. D'Angelo also plays for Miami Dade College during the college season. For the Sharks, he's posted a batting average of .328 with 38 RBI's and one homerun.
Brockton Rox
If you travel 70 miles back over the Cape Cod bridge and north to Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, you will find Manny Ramirez Jr, playing summer ball for the Brockton Rox club. Ramirez is an outfielder who is also a sophomore at Tallahassee Community College. Ramirez is returning to the club, along with Kade Foulke, the son of former Red Sox closer, Keith Foulke. Also on the Rox squad this year is José Martinez, Pedro’s Martinez nephew. He is the son of Ramon Martinez, long-time pitcher for the LA Dodgers.
The Brockton Rox open their 2023 Futures League Season on Thursday, May 25th.
Wait, There's More
The Brockton Rox also have the first female player in future league history. Marika Lyszczyk, is a MLB content creator, and catcher in NCAA men’s baseball at Sonoma State University. She will be taking her talents behind the plate and to the mound as a rotating pitcher. “She’s an incredible role model and embodies what the spirit of the Brockton Rox truly is,” says Head Coach Joe Logan.
Campanelli Stadium in Brockton is also where the Savannah Bananas will make their tour stop on August 16. So far, it is their only Massachusetts date on the calendar. You can join the ticket list here.
We are two months into the season, and there's a lot of exciting baseball in New England ahead for the summer. Getting the chance to see the sons of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez play in future's league certainly tops the list of great baseball happening in the state.
What are the Boston Red Sox Retired Numbers?
Boston Red Sox left fielder Alex Verdugo wears number 99. Closer Kenley Jansen wears number 74. At first glance, you may think these are not typical baseball uniform numbers. The organization has 11 options that are immediately unavailable. The Red Sox retired numbers include 10 players that are forever Yawkey Way legends, and one player who is forever a MLB legend.
The Red Sox first retired a uniform number in 1984. It was #4 which belonged to Joe Cronin, who spent 48 years in baseball. The nod was to honor the fact that Cronin was a player, manager, and executive with Boston. Five days later (May 29, 1984) the Red Sox retired Ted Williams' #9. It would be four years until another number was retired with Bobby Doerr.
In April of 1997 all of Major League Baseball retired #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson.
Walking into Fenway Park you will see banners draped along the outside walls of the stadium honoring each player who has their number retired. You will also see them displayed high above right field inside the park, complimenting the Pesky pole.
So, if you are catching a game this year and wondering why a starting pitcher like Nick Pivetta is sporting #37, it's important to know what his options were to select from. Here are the Red Sox retired numbers.
#1 Bobby Doerr
Elsa/Getty ImagesBobby Doerr's #1 (center) was retired on May 21, 1988. He was a second baseman and nine-time all-star.
#4 Joe Cronin
Getty ImagesCronin (left) had his #4 retired on May 24, 1984. Here, he is pictured as the club's manager signing a contract with Ted Williams in 1958. Cronin was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.
#6 Johnny Pesky
Ezra Shaw /Getty ImagesPesky's #6 was retired on September 28, 2008. As a player and manager for the club, Pesky is in the Red Sox Hall of Fame, but the only member of the Boston retired number group who is not in the MLB Hall of Fame. He has a foul pole named after him down the right field line, in honor of a home run he wrapped around the pole.
#8 Carl Yastrzemski
Darren McCollester/Getty ImagesYastrzemski was an 18-time all-star. He hit 452 home runs as a lefty in addition to being a gold glove fielder. Fun fact, his grandson Mike Yastrzemski plays for the San Francisco Giants and hit a home run for the team during his first game at Fenway Park.
#9 Ted Williams
Darren McCollester/Getty Images#9 was retired on May 29, 1984 in honor of "Teddy Ballgame". He spent his entire 19-year career with the Red Sox and remains the last player to hit .400.
#14 Jim Rice
Getty ImagesStill actively involved with the organization, Rice played 16 seasons in Boston. He won the AL MVP in 1978, which was also a year he led the AL in home runs.
#26 Wade Boggs
Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesBoggs also has his number (12) retired with the Tampa Bay Rays. This smooth hitting third baseman was a twelve-time all-star, World Series champion (1996), and Hall of Famer. #26 was retired during a pre-game ceremony on May 26, 2016.
#27 Carlton Fisk
Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesThe catcher! Fisk has #27 retired with the Red Sox and #72 retired with the White Sox. He's responsible for the most famous "stay fair" home run wave in the history of the game. His 24 years as an American League catcher remains a MLB record.
#34 David Ortiz
Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesPossibly the most popular Red Sox player of all, Big Papi had his #34 retirement ceremony on June 23, 2017. It was almost immediate following his retirement after the 2016 season. This three-time World Series champion was a clutch-hitting legend.
#45 Pedro Martinez
Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesThe first person you think of when it comes to baseball and #45. Pedro had an infamous smile, personality, and fast ball during his seven seasons with the Red Sox. He won the Cy Young award as a member of the team in 1999 and 2000. He was also a crucial part of the 2004 World Series team.
#42 Jackie Robinson
Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesAll MLB players wear #42 on the annual Jackie Robinson Day of each season. Every MLB team has the number retired in Robinson's honor.
New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox
Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 26: Catcher Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox wears Adidas cleats adorned with retired player numbers during the game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on September 26, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts.
