Alexei Ramírez has decided to return to the Cuban Liga Élite with his hometown Vegueros de Pinar del Río once again this season. The 43-year-old infielder is another high-profile addition to the tournament, Yasmany Tomás being the other.
In 2024 with Pinar del Río in the Serie Nacional swatted hit 96 hits in 269 visits to finish with a .357 average on the campaign. He was with the team from day one and was one of the best players on the squad hitting third and playing first base. “El Pirineo” as he is known by the Cuban faithful was a key piece for the Vegueros on offense.
Ramírez was undoubtedly a leader for the “Green Tsunami ” in their path to the tournament final. The slugger also smashed 18 doubles and 14 home runs, while also driving in 70 runs . As usual, the infielder exhibited good patience at the plate, drawing 51 walks. With 14 longballs he reached 104 in the National Series and joined an elite club of along with José Dariel Abreu and Yoenis Céspedes of players to hit +100 homers in the Major Leagues and Cuban domestic tournaments.
During his time in the Major Leagues with Chicago, Tampa and San Diego, Ramírez enjoyed a solid career that spanned nine seasons, from 2008 to 2016. Over that span, he had a total of 1,387 hits, 115 home runs, a .270 batting average and received several individual honors , including a selection to the All-Star Game in 2014 and won two Silver Sluggers, one in 2010 and another in 2014 during his time in MLB.
The Cuban also saw action in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol with the Diablos Rojos of Mexico City hitting .303 with six homers and 59 runs batted in over a 93 game incursion in the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol that also saw him return to Cuba in an exhibition series with various Cuban League All-Star teams during Spring Training.
Rules of participation for the 2025 Liga Élite:
- 22 athletes from the qualified team must have participated in the 2024 Serie Nacional season.
- 10 reinforcements, including six from the Cuban National Baseball Commission pool and four that are able to be required by INDER to be added to each of the six participating teams.
- The reinforcement requirements cannot be from their team from the previous season that participated in the 2024 Serie Nacional Season and have to be athletes born in Cuba must be residing abroad while playing in other international professional leagues with the authorization from the FCBS.
- 1st and 3rd rounds from 1st to 6th; 2nd and 4th rounds from 6th to 1st; all other rounds by drawing lots prior to the start of the 2025 Serie Nacional season.
- Athletes born in Cuba and residing abroad may participate upon request from the player to the province with which they want to participate and approval from the CNB.
- Athletes contracted by the FCBS may be added or removed at any time, according to their contract.
- A window will be allowed for 3 players from any league, including the SNB, before the 40th game. The removals will depend on the category of the athletes (reinforcement by reinforcement; player from the province by player from the province).
- The 32 players will be eligible to participate in each match, but 27 must be declared before the start of the match of each day (line up).
- The visiting team will travel with 27 athletes.