The Official Site of Hanley Ramirez

Tue, Jun 3rd 2008, 10:34

Hanley enjoys handy all-star lead

You have to go back to the Marlins’ inaugural 1993 season to find the only player in franchise history to be selected as a starter to the All-Star Game.

Even that distinction had a hitch.

In ’93, Gary Sheffield was the fans’ choice at third base for the National League in the Midsummer Classic. The catch is he was traded to the Marlins from the Padres close to the All-Star Game, and a majority of the votes he received came while he was wearing a Padres uniform.

This season, Hanley Ramirez hopes to become the people’s pick to be the NL’s starting shortstop. The 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic is off to a terrific start. He was leading the race in a highly competitive shortstop field when the second round of ballots were tabulated.

In his third big league season, Ramirez is already regarded as one of the best all-around players in the game — regardless of position. He’s a threat to hit for average and for power, steal bases and score a bunch of runs.

Defensively, he’s also improving, as is evident by a handful of Web-gem caliber plays in Florida’s recent three-game series with the Mets at Shea Stadium.

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