Saturday, November 12, 2011

Ramos home, details of rescue emerge

Associated Press photo
Wilson Ramos is hugged by a family member after he was rescued last night.
Venezuelan police commandos raided a house in the mountains about an hour from Wilson Ramos' home last night, exchanged gunfire with the catcher's abductors and then rescued him from a bedroom and whisked him away to be reunited with family members.

"The truth is, at the moment they came to get me I was very nervous," Ramos told reporters early this morning outside his family's house. "There were many gunshots ... thanks to God, those guys did a tremendous job. I'm super grateful to them."

Roughly 51 hours after he was abducted by four armed men outside his home near Valencia, Ramos was back at the same location, greeted by ecstatic family members, friends, media and other well-wishers who had been anxiously awaiting his return.

"Thanks to God!" Ramos' mother, Maria Campos, exclaimed on Venezuelan television. "Thanks to my country, to my neighbors and to my family, who were supporting us."

After an exhaustive search, police discovered Ramos being held in a home in the mountainous region of Carababo state, not far from where they found two vehicles believed to have been used in the kidnapping.

Ramos said he did not know who his abductors were but could tell they were Colombian from their accents. They said little to him throughout the entire ordeal.

"They simply told me to cooperate, that they were going to ask for a ton of cash for me," he told reporters. "They put me in a room with a bed. I was lying there. It was hard for me to think about, if I was going to get out alive, first of all ... about how my family, my mother were."

Five men were arrested in conjunction with the kidnapping, Venezuelan justice minister Tareck El Aissami announced.

Following his rescue, Ramos underwent medical tests to ensure he was uninjured.

"They didn't physically harm me," he said. "But psychologically, I underwent very great harm."

Ramos said he intends to resume playing "as soon as I fell alright."

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo spoke with Ramos late last night and was assured the 24-year-old catcher had been unharmed.

"I join Wilson in thanking the many law enforcement officials in Venezuela and investigators with Major League Baseball who worked tirelessly to ensure a positive ending to what has been a frightening ordeal," Rizzo said in a statement. "The only detail that concerns us tonight is that Wilson is safe. The entire Washington Nationals family is thankful that Wilson Ramos is coming home."

36 comments:

Original Nats Fan said...

I am so grateful for this good outcome. Welcome home, Wilson. thanks for all the coverage, Mark,
I am so happy for his family.

Section 109 said...

You know, years ago my apartment was broken into (when I was away), and even after the locks were changed, I didn't feel comfortable in my own place for a while and had a hard time going to sleep. Multiply that feeling by about 1,000 and I guess that's approximately the aftermath unease of someone who has been kidnapped, horribly worried about the effect on his family, and rescued through a gunfight. I think Wilson and his family continue to need our prayers and good vibes. But he's home and safe!

natsfan1a said...

Very grateful and happy for Wilson and his family as well. Also wish peace and healing for him and his family as they process this ordeal.

Scooter said...

Yeah, I imagine it's not totally over for the Rami.

But for now, they're reunited. And it feels SO GOOD!

natsfan1a said...

They both are so excited, 'cause they're reunited, hey, hey.

NatsLady said...

Just noticed--Got candlewax on my iPhone. Almost want to keep it there to remember how worried we all were...

So happy today.

Tegwar said...

Mark thank you for the great reporting on this, As you have shown before you are much more than just a "sports writer".

Like everyone else I am grateful and happy that the best possible outcome occurred. I'm sure this traumatic experience will always have some affect on the Ramos family and I hope they will be able to start their healing process soon.

natsfan1a said...

NatsLady, I know. This morning I retrieved the jar from the votive candle that I lit at 6 p.m. yesterday. I'd let it burn down overnight (on the slate front stoop, well away from the walls of the house). A part of me was reluctant to toss it. OTOH, my candles on the gratefulness.org site, to which somebody posted a link yesterday evening, are still burning, the second of them being an expression of thanks and celebration.

Anonymous said...

Great news!! Hopefully, something can be done by management to help ameliorate these possibilities in the future ...

Scooter said...

NatsLady, weren't you paying attention? You were supposed to drip wax on the sidewalk!

natsfan1a said...

+1, Scooter.

FS said...

Just saw bunch of Ramos' highlights from the past season. What a great guy!

Good to see him back safe and sound.

natsfan1a said...

On one of the broadcasts, maybe on MLB Network, they were playing some clips. My fave is still the one where he tosses his mask to the home plate ump before going back on a popup behind the plate. I lol'd at the time.

FS said...

1a, Not sure how I missed that one. but I just saw it for the first time. pretty cool. For me, that walk-off against Ms is the winner. During that month, they were finding many ways to win ballgames. That game against Seattle and the 14-inning game against White Sox are two of the best games ever.

natsfan1a said...

That was great, too. There's a slideshow on the Post site that includes a still of Ramos getting Gatorade dumped on him. The caption says that Werth is dumping it. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's Mikey Morse there.

FS said...

That's Morse. Charlie Slowes' call of that game confirms for me, which I have saved on my drive (thanks to Mark Z).

SonnyG10 said...

Thanks to God, the Venezuelan police, and the MLB investigators who brought Wilson out safely. It feels so good to have him back.

Steve said...

It is so good that Wilson Ramos is home safe with his family. Nothing else really matters that much.

That said...

Hey, I'd love to have a clip of that radio call of Wilson Ramos's HR to beat the M's -- I was there with my friend of nearly 40+ years and it's a great memory for us both.

I hope I will be among the crowd giving Mr. Ramos a standing ovation the first time he is introduced at Nationals Park in 2012.

FS said...

Steve,

does this link work for you?
http://www.mediafire.com/?2dk9xb98mxwyd2f

NatStat said...

Like Ramo I'd be most worried the moment that the Federales started to open fire on the perps. Anyway, nice job for all concerned in his rescue.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you!

Now that we have Pipo back safe and sound, I'm wondering why Rizzo lets his #3 guy in the BP, HRod, pitch his arm out in VWL.

Didn't HRod report late to ST, with visa problems and and a sore neck?

Particularly pitchers that have made it to the Bigs, I see little reason for them to be spending 2-3 months continuing with pitching efforts.

There are only so many miles in an arm.

Let's work on those contracts Mike!

Gonat said...

NatsLady said...
Just noticed--Got candlewax on my iPhone. Almost want to keep it there to remember how worried we all were...

So happy today.

November 12, 2011 11:42 AM
_________________________________

That is a good thought. I'm still shaken by this. I don't wear jerseys to games but may have to start and get a Wilson Ramos #3 in addition to a RAMOOSE is on the LOOSE shirt.

whatsanattau said...

I am no expert, but it does not seem inappropriate to allow a relief pitcher to continue to work in winter league - especially one who has had control problems. In fact it seems an appropriate program.

NatsLady said...

Whatsanattau-- was thinking the same thing. I doubt a young, strong kid like Henry will blow out his arm, especially with proper supervision, and he needs to work on control, and on handling situations with runners on base.

natsfan1a said...

Great piece by Rafael Rojas Cremonesi, who provided updates throughout the ordeal. I imagine that Wilson's family is very proud of him. Such poise and eloquence after undergoing an ordeal like that, and at such a young age.

NatStat said...

RE: HRod in the VWL

Time will tell how his arm responds over the years.

In the meantime, having a few armed guards on hand wouldn't hurt.

Seems like 162 games/yr. in MLB should be sufficient to work on control and holding runners on.

Hitters, and hitting, is a different story. But even they need a break in the action away from the wear and tear of full season of baseball.

Jesus Flores needs the opportunity; he didn't play full time last year, and he didn't play at all the previous 2 years.

baseballswami said...

I have thought about Ramos almost constantly these last few days and have been choked up more than a few times. I am grateful beyond belief that he is back with his family. I hope he has lots of support to deal with such a terrible trauma. I can't wait to see him in person and cheer for him until my voice is gone!

waddu eye no said...

from nats site:

"Security expert Luis Cedeno told the AP that Ramos' abductors could be linked to one of the Venezuelan criminal groups that focus on high-profile kidnappings."

lucky the kidnapping groups are on the chavez payroll so he knows where to find them.

Anonymous said...

And we think we have corruption in dc -- child's play compared to venezuela.

JaneB said...

I still keep coming back to see what new info is here about Wilson. Like swami, I get choked up at random moments. And I was thinking something similar to waddu...that there probably was a very easy way to get to these kidnappers. But also, what happens when you don't play major league baseball? Who helps you then?

We had planned NOT to go to spring training this year. I'm going to start lobbying for a change in those plans.

natsfan1a said...

Great minds think alike, JaneB. April is much too far away. ;-)

We had planned NOT to go to spring training this year. I'm going to start lobbying for a change in those plans.

baseballswami said...

Definitely planning a trip to Viera this spring. I hope by then, Wilson is feeling strong and safe. I think the Nationals organization will have to keep a close eye on him for signs of ptsd and other problems that might emerge down the road.

skidge said...

Does anyone have a link for Viera info for a newbie who might want to go this year...?

Anonymous said...

Will the Nats keep Flores given Derrick Norris continuing problems defensively. He needs a good year with ex-catcher Randy Knorr in Syracuse. I think IRod is not going to be brought back ... he wants to play and the Nats need to go with youth from here on out. Meanwhile, Jhonatan Solano looks like the next best possibility at backup at this point in time until Sandy Leon is ready. Possibly making Flores more than potential trade bait.

Anonymous said...

I wonder what the truth is re: his rescue(see death of Osama)........glad he's safe though no matter how it happened

MicheleS said...

skidge, go back to mark's post from earlier this year. I think in February. He has a pretty good round up of what to do in Viera

natsfan1a said...

Yes, bbswami, I was thinking the same thing.

I think the Nationals organization will have to keep a close eye on him for signs of ptsd and other problems that might emerge down the road.

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