Via Taiwan Times:
We reached out to Manny and his agent, Hector Zepeda* to see what he had to say about his time in Taiwan, and his hopes for the future.
Here’s what he had to say.
You were here before in the CPBL, back in 2013. What memories do you have of that time?
Well, let me first start by saying, when I first got word about the opportunity to play for the EDA Rhinos in 2013, I felt like “a kid at a candy store.”
The people of Taiwan treated me like ‘baseball-royalty”, and I was truly overwhelmed by the island’s love for the game.
My fondest memory of Taiwan happens to be my first home run in a Rhinos uniform.
After I got that chip off my back, I was able to slide into a comfortable rhythm. The baseball fans of Taiwan are incredibly respectful and loyal—this being one of the many reasons of wanting to come back and leave my mark, once more.
Also, the food and their tea were delicious, I remember trying to figure out how to bring it back, days before my departure. I also remember visiting a local hospital and meeting a few children, who were ill.
Now that I am longer ESPN material, I now look for other ways to serve and help out any way I can without being in the spotlight.
He played 19 seasons in the major leagues and was named MVP of the 2004 World Series, when the Boston Red Sox won their first title since 1918. His last major league appearance was with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011.
Ramirez was suspended 50 games early in 2009 with the Los Angeles Dodgers after testing positive for a banned female fertility drug popular among steroid users. He retired in 2011 after testing positive for elevated testosterone.
The CPBL started its season April 11 but is barring spectators over concerns of spreading the coronavirus in a crowded space.
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