Former Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez was arrested Monday and charged with battery after a dispute with his wife at his South Florida home.
According to reports, Ramirez, 39, and his wife were arguing in their bedroom, when he allegedly slapped her in the face, causing her to fall back and hit her head on the headboard of their bed. She reportedly told police she was afraid the situation would get worse.
During Ramirez’s first court appearance on Tuesday, the judge set bail at $2,500 and told the former World Series MVP he was not allowed to have direct contact with his wife, the Associated Press reported. He reportedly denied hitting his wife.
After testing positive a second time for a performance enhancing substance, Ramirez retired during the first month of the season while with the Tampa Bay Rays, instead of facing a 100-game suspension.
He was suspended for 50 games in 2009 for a positive test.
Some of his best years came during his seven-year stint with the Boston Red Sox, which included helping the Sox break their 86-year World Series title drought in 2004. He was named World Series MVP that year.
One of the game’s best sluggers, Ramirez shined in the clutch, but was also comedic at times in the outfield—prompting his weird behavior to be described as “Manny being Manny.”
Ramirez was born in the Dominican Republic and went to George Washington high school in New York.
He was selected with the 13th pick in the amateur draft by the Cleveland Indians in 1991.
He made his debut two years later, going 0-for-4 against the Minnesota Twins on Sept. 2, 1993.
In 19 seasons in the majors, Ramirez batted .312 and had 555 home runs.
Ramirez joined the Red Sox as a free agent in 2001, and helped the team win their first World Series title in 86 years three years later.
