Mon, Mar 2nd 2009, 16:59
JUPITER, Fla. — Where Hanley Ramirez plays in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic club will be determined by manager Felipe Alou.
Ramirez clearly has a preference. The Marlins’ 25-year-old All-Star wants to play shortstop.
“Yeah, it does matter,” Ramirez said Sunday. “[Shortstop], that’s where I play. It’s my position.”
The Dominican Republic squad has some stellar shortstop candidates, including Jose Reyes of the Mets and Houston’s Miguel Tejada.
When he was a younger player in the Dominican Republic Winter League, he occasionally saw action in the outfield. But he hasn’t played any position other than shortstop since he joined the Marlins in 2006.
Whatever decision Alou makes, Ramirez will live with. He is just looking forward to representing his country.