A lot has been surmised, predicted and reported over the last few days when it comes to the recent reports of Hanley Ramirez's possible involvement in a drug bust. But one element that was missing was a comment from one of Ramirez's former teammates with the Red Sox.
We now have one of those voices.
Speaking to WEEI.com prior to Wednesday night's game against the Angels, Christian Vazquez, perceived as Ramirez's closest friend on the team, offered his thoughts on the matter.
"It was very sad news when that happened. I know that he’s not that kind of person. I was happy to know that wasn’t true," Vazquez said. "I’m going to support him if something happens. He’s one of my best friends in baseball, and out of baseball too. I talk every day to him. I’m there for him every day, like a friend."
While Vazquez has been in constant communication with Ramirez, the Red Sox catcher did note that the conversations never got into specifics about the reports, which started to gain steam late Friday afternoon.
"I didn’t want to talk to him about that, but I was there for him every day," Vazquez said. "I told him, ‘I’m here for you. If something happens I’m here.’ But I never talked to him about it."
As for Vazquez's thoughts regarding Ramirez's future, the tone coming from the Sox backstop suggests that family is coming first when it comes to the 34-year-old's current priorities.
"He’s enjoying his kids and his family. I hope next year he gets a job. He likes baseball and I hope he gets an opportunity to play again," he said. "I don’t know (if he will play again this season). I don’t really talk to him about that. I just talk to him as a friend. He’s enjoying life right now. Maybe he needed a break from baseball and then get back in next year."