Miami Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez is slated to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, according to the official roster announced on MLB Network on Feb. 5.
Ramírez was born in Santo Domingo, and he will now have the pleasure of representing his home. He will also get to play in his home ballpark at loanDepot Park in Miami, where the Dominican Republic will compete in Pool D. Their pool consists of Venezuela, the Netherlands, Israel, and Nicaragua.
Ramírez was one of three players traded to the Marlins in the deal that sent Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the New York Yankees in 2024. He spent the rest of his 2024 season in Triple-A Jacksonville. He made his MLB debut with the Marlins last season.
Ramírez had 21 home runs, 67 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases with a slash line of .231/.287/.413 in 537 at-bats. His efforts resulted in a sixth-place finish in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
He signed with the Yankees as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 for a $400,000 signing bonus. He was the Yankees’ No. 22 prospect in 2024, and hit two home runs against his former team at loanDepot Park in a 2-0 win on Aug. 2, 2025.
He made some MLB history in his rookie season, tying the league record with seven extra-base hits in his first five games. Ramírez was also the first player in MLB history with seven or more hits, including at least five extra-base hits, in his first three career games in at least the last 125 seasons, per MLB statistician Sarah Langs.
Agustin Ramirez is the first player with 7+ hits including at least 5 extra-base hits in his first 3 career games in at least the last 125 seasons https://t.co/fODxoC36JK
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 26, 2025
2023 was the year that everything clicked for Ramirez at the plate. The Yankees unlocked something in his swing and got him from Single-A Tampa to Double-A Somerset. During his stop inHigh-A Hudson Valley, he hit nine home runs, collected 23 RBIs, had a .384 batting average and posted a 1.441 OPS in 112 at-bats.
In 2024, Ramirez started his season in Double-A Somerset and was promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in June. He made himself an attractive enough piece to be sent to the Marlins for a player of Chisholm Jr.’s caliber.
Ramirez is expected to back up his former Yankees teammate, Austin Wells, for the Dominican Republic. It’s possible he could get a few big pinch-hit opportunities in the WBC.
Photo: Miami Marlins catcher Agustin Ramirez bats during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
