Nationals Player Wilson Ramos Kidnapped In Venezuela

Wilson Ramos, 24, a Major League Baseball catcher for the Washington Nationals, was reportedly kidnapped at his home in Venezuela Wednesday evening.

Ramos had gone home in the off-season to participate in the winter league games with his Venezuelan team, Tigres de Aragua, according to The Washington Post. He was reportedly with his family when four armed people entered his home, led him out of his house, and fled the scene in a vehicle.

The MLB and the Nationals, with whom Ramos was a rookie last season after being traded from the Minnesota Twins, released a joint statement about the event. "Our foremost concern is with Wilson Ramos and his family and our thoughts are with them at this time. Major League Baseball's Department of Investigations is working with the appropriate authorities on this matter. Both Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals have been instructed to make no further comment."

Team spokesperson Katherine Vilera tweeted her concern, writing, "This is sad, worrisome and true that Wilson Ramos has been kidnapped."

The practice of kidnapping and holding people for ransom is no anomaly in Venezuela. The State Department estimates that there were "an alarming 9.2 incidents of kidnapping per 100,000 inhabitants in Venezuela" in 2009, reports The Washington Post. Ramos' family has not yet been in contact with the perpetrators.