Ex-Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez said he wants to work as MLB hitting coach
"I'm confident I can help any team significantly improve their offense."
Former Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez wants to make it back to the big leagues, according to a report from MLB insider Hector Gomez.
At age 52, Ramirez’s professional playing days are over, but he has a desire to take his coaching career to the next level.
“I’m available to work as a hitting coach for any of the 30 MLB teams,” Ramirez told Gomez. “I’m confident I can help any team significantly improve their offense.”
Ramirez had a brief stint as a player-coach for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in 2014, before his role changed to hitting consultant the following year.
He later signed with the Sydney Blue Sox as a player-coach in 2020, but did not end up playing a game for the club.
Ramirez enjoyed a lengthy stretch as one of the MLB’s most feared hitters during his playing days. He was a 12-time All-Star, a nine-time Silver Slugger award winner, and the MVP of the 2004 World Series while the Red Sox. He is 15th on the all-time home run list. He had plate discipline to go along with his power, as a lifetime .312 hitter with a career on-base percentage of .411.
This year’s Red Sox have power. They’re seventh in home runs, sixth in RBI’s, and fifth in slugging percentage. However, they have struggled with discipline. They are third in strikeouts, 20th in walks, and 21st in batting average.
Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona told reporters two years ago that Ramirez was one of the best “pure hitters” he ever saw. He said that Ramirez had a lovable side to his personality, but also could be challenging to work with some times within the context of managing a team.
The free-spirited outfielder had his quirks, but his talent and work ethic for hitting was undeniable. Now he’s looking to put those traits to use in a different capacity as a coach.
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