Manny Ramirez approached a New Zealand baseball team about playing this season

The 48-year-old is interested in playing for Auckland Tuatara, COVID-19 permitting.

Manny Ramirez. Jim Davis/The Boston Globe

August 6, 2020

1 minute to read

Manny Ramirez might not be done competing just yet.

The 12-time All Star is looking to play in New Zealand for Auckland Tuatara, the team’s chief executitve tells NZ Sports Wire. Ramirez reportedly approached the team to play in the Australian Baseball League during the 2020-21 season, that is if it resumes as normal due to COVID-19.

“This is real. If we can make it work, we’re a safe harbour,” said chief executive Regan Wood. “If he can get in and play, there are all these ABL connotations whether we go across the ditch or not. It’s a real conversation. He’s a pretty laid back character.”

Is Manny Ramirez worth it for the Tuatara?….Hell yeah! Baseball great a potential player in Auckland@ABL @AucklandTuatara @BaseballNZ https://t.co/XO7vSQjCIs

— NZ Sports Wire (@NZSportsWire) August 6, 2020

Ramirez has expressed his hopes to return to batter’s box before — telling the Taiwan Times in an interview published in April that he missed the feeling of competing.

“My goal for 2020 is to find a spot in the [CPBL] I have been itching to get back in the batter’s box and be able to compete again,” he said to the Times. “I also miss being around teammates and team dinners post-game.”

Ramirez, who played on the Red Sox for seven and a half seasons, was the World Series MVP during the team’s legendary 2004 World Series Championship run, and is currently ranked 15th on MLB’s all-time home run list (555 hits).

After his MLB career ended in 2011, he played professionally for the then-EDA Rhinos in the Chinese Professional Baseball League back in 2013. In just half a season, he hit .352 with eight home runs and 43 RBIs.

His last professional run was for the Fighting Dogs of Japan’s independent Shikou Island League in 2017.