Brazil entered the World Baseball Classic with long odds without an active MLB player on its roster, but the son of a former MLB star looks like he’s here to stay.
Lucas Ramirez, the son of Manny Ramirez, is on Brazil’s roster and already doing damage, homering off a pair of MLB aces between a pre-tournament exhibition game and a WBC pool-play opener against the United States.
Ramirez is a standout for Brazil, but does he have a path to the major leagues?
Here’s what you need to know about Ramirez after his hot start to the tournament.
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Who is Lucas Ramirez?
Ramirez is the son of former Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez and an Angels prospect. An outfielder, Ramirez was selected out of high school in the 17th round of the 2024 MLB Draft and split the 2025 season between rookie ball and advanced-A ball in the Angels’ system.
While Ramirez was born in the United States and his father is from the Dominican Republic, he is eligible to play for Brazil due to his mother’s heritage and made the team’s roster despite his youth.
Ramirez committed to the University of Tennessee before opting to sign professionally with the Angels.
Lucas Ramirez HR off Logan Webb
Webb greeted Giants ace Logan Webb with a statement home run in the first inning of the Brazil’s World Baseball Classic opener, hammering a blast to answer Aaron Judge’s 2-run shot:
Lucas Ramirez takes Logan Webb DEEP in the 1st… #WBC2026 pic.twitter.com/s04p4j9KA5
— SFG Network (@sfgnetwork25) March 7, 2026
Lucas Ramirez HR off Jacob deGrom
Before the World Baseball Classic officially began, Ramirez took Rangers ace Jacob deGrom deep in an exhibition game:
Lucas Ramirez — the 20-year-old son of Manny Ramirez, wearing No. 24 for Team Brazil — hit a home run off of Jacob deGrom in the first inning.
The only real blemish on what was otherwise a solid first spring start for deGrom. pic.twitter.com/IkksyzUhYk
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) March 4, 2026
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Lucas Ramirez MLB team
Ramirez was drafted by the Angels in 2024 and remains in the organization. He split 2025 between rookie ball and advanced-A ball as he tries to work his way through Los Angeles’ system.
Ramirez does not rank among the Angels’ top 30 prospects entering the season, according to MLB Pipeline. 17th-round picks don’t often reach the major leagues, but Ramirez played well enough in rookie ball to put himself on the map as a player to watch for Angels fans 2026 and beyond.
Where is Lucas Ramirez from?
Ramirez was born in Weston, Florida, when his father was playing for the Boston Red Sox. He spent his childhood in Florida, attending American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida, a few hours north of Miami.
Manny is from the Dominican Republic, but Lucas’ mother was born and raised in Brazil, making him eligible to represent the nation internationally.
How old is Lucas Ramirez?
Ramirez is only 20 years old. He was drafted two years ago and hasn’t played above advanced-A ball in the minor leagues.
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