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Nova High School’s baseball team beat Miramar 10-0 last night, and some credit might go to Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez.
Ramirez didn’t play in the game, although for a few memorable moments (which we’ll get to later) some of the high school kids thought he might. But the Marlins’ three-time All Star definitely put a charge into the kids with an unexpected visit to the school’s batting cages in Davie.
“He just kind of showed up,” said Scott Kleiman, an attorney whose son Zach plays for the Nova Titans.
Hanley Ramirez with Nova's freshman first baseman Brandon McCalla. Photo courtesy of Scott Kleiman
Nova high’s baseball facilities, with four indoor batting cages, over the years have attracted major league players living in South Florida who are looking to take a few swings in the off-season — from Manny Ramirez to Cliff Floyd.
Around 6 p.m. last night, Nova High players preparing for their game noticed Hanley in one of the cages with Mike Morse of the Nationals and Rangers catcher Mike Napoli.
At first, Hanley started off taking swings left-handed, according to Kleiman. Then, the three-time All Star switched to his usual right-handed stance and took cuts.
“Here goes Hanley, and all of these kids followed him in like a magnet. The kids kind of flocked in to watch him hit,” said Kleiman, who volunteers as the scorebaord operator and PA announcer.
“All of the younger kids, sophomores and freshmen and some juniors who weren’t going to be playing, all flooded into the cage to take a look.”
As word spread, the crowd around the cages grew.
Hanley Ramirez prepares to swing at Nova High's batting cage as Mike Napoli watches. Photo courtesy of Scott Kleiman
“A lot of kids were peering in from outside the door to look and see,” Kleiman said.
“They don’t get to see that very often. They were also impressed by his size. They’re used to seeing him sitting in the stands or on TV. They don’t get to stand within a few feet of him and see how big he is.”
Soon, Kleiman was in the press box, playing high-intensity music as he prepared pre-game introductions — as he names off the players in the batting order, each kid runs through a tunnel of the non-starters and onto the field.
“My son bats ninth, so he’s in the back as we’re doing the introductions,” Kleiman said.
“I kick on the music. Hanley hears the music. Looks through some of the holes in the concrete block. Can’t really see, so he comes into line with the kids to see what’s going on.
“Then gets in line between our fifth and sixth hitters. He’s bouncing up and down and acting like he’s going to run out. Runs by a couple of of the kids but never comes out of the dugout and laughs and circles back around.
“He was getting all hyped up with them, which got the kids all hyped up, too!”
Kleiman was impressed that Ramirez was seen sitting in the stands along the third-base line, watching at least part of the game.
“Some of us were joking that maybe Hanley was the second-best shortstop at the facility last night,” Kleiman said, “behind our kid, our senior starter, George Gugino.”
Ramirez will report to Jupiter soon, in time for the Marlins’ first full-squad workouts on Feb. 22. On Tuesday, he’ll take batting practice at the new Marlins’ ballpark in downtown Miami along with Mike Stanton, Chris Coghlan, Gaby Sanchez, John Buck and Logan Morrison. (The event is for media only and not open to the public. The ballpark, still under construction, is on schedule to open in 2012.)
As the Marlins prepare for their final year at Sun Life Stadium, Ramirez is looking to bounce back from what he considers a sub-par 2010 season.
After winning the NL batting title in 2009 by hitting .342, he hit an even .300 last year and sat out most of September complaining about sore elbows. It’s encouraging to see that he’s getting some pre-spring work in — and having fun in the process.
“It was fun,” Kleiman said. “The kids all got a good charge out of it. They were all talking about it after the game as well as, I’m sure, during the game.”
Ramirez didn’t play in the game, although for a few memorable moments (which we’ll get to later) some of the high school kids thought he might. But the Marlins’ three-time All Star definitely put a charge into the kids with an unexpected visit to the school’s batting cages in Davie.
“He just kind of showed up,” said Scott Kleiman, an attorney whose son Zach plays for the Nova Titans.
Hanley Ramirez with Nova's freshman first baseman Brandon McCalla. Photo courtesy of Scott Kleiman
Nova high’s baseball facilities, with four indoor batting cages, over the years have attracted major league players living in South Florida who are looking to take a few swings in the off-season — from Manny Ramirez to Cliff Floyd.
Around 6 p.m. last night, Nova High players preparing for their game noticed Hanley in one of the cages with Mike Morse of the Nationals and Rangers catcher Mike Napoli.
At first, Hanley started off taking swings left-handed, according to Kleiman. Then, the three-time All Star switched to his usual right-handed stance and took cuts.
“Here goes Hanley, and all of these kids followed him in like a magnet. The kids kind of flocked in to watch him hit,” said Kleiman, who volunteers as the scorebaord operator and PA announcer.
“All of the younger kids, sophomores and freshmen and some juniors who weren’t going to be playing, all flooded into the cage to take a look.”
As word spread, the crowd around the cages grew.
Hanley Ramirez prepares to swing at Nova High's batting cage as Mike Napoli watches. Photo courtesy of Scott Kleiman
“A lot of kids were peering in from outside the door to look and see,” Kleiman said.
“They don’t get to see that very often. They were also impressed by his size. They’re used to seeing him sitting in the stands or on TV. They don’t get to stand within a few feet of him and see how big he is.”
Soon, Kleiman was in the press box, playing high-intensity music as he prepared pre-game introductions — as he names off the players in the batting order, each kid runs through a tunnel of the non-starters and onto the field.
“My son bats ninth, so he’s in the back as we’re doing the introductions,” Kleiman said.
“I kick on the music. Hanley hears the music. Looks through some of the holes in the concrete block. Can’t really see, so he comes into line with the kids to see what’s going on.
“Then gets in line between our fifth and sixth hitters. He’s bouncing up and down and acting like he’s going to run out. Runs by a couple of of the kids but never comes out of the dugout and laughs and circles back around.
“He was getting all hyped up with them, which got the kids all hyped up, too!”
Kleiman was impressed that Ramirez was seen sitting in the stands along the third-base line, watching at least part of the game.
“Some of us were joking that maybe Hanley was the second-best shortstop at the facility last night,” Kleiman said, “behind our kid, our senior starter, George Gugino.”
Ramirez will report to Jupiter soon, in time for the Marlins’ first full-squad workouts on Feb. 22. On Tuesday, he’ll take batting practice at the new Marlins’ ballpark in downtown Miami along with Mike Stanton, Chris Coghlan, Gaby Sanchez, John Buck and Logan Morrison. (The event is for media only and not open to the public. The ballpark, still under construction, is on schedule to open in 2012.)
As the Marlins prepare for their final year at Sun Life Stadium, Ramirez is looking to bounce back from what he considers a sub-par 2010 season.
After winning the NL batting title in 2009 by hitting .342, he hit an even .300 last year and sat out most of September complaining about sore elbows. It’s encouraging to see that he’s getting some pre-spring work in — and having fun in the process.
“It was fun,” Kleiman said. “The kids all got a good charge out of it. They were all talking about it after the game as well as, I’m sure, during the game.”
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