Dominican Republic Baseball Players Shining in MLB Playoffs as Ramirez, Alvarez and Ortiz are Red Hot

Oct 07, 2013 12:46 AM EDT
Dominican Republic's Baseball Players: David Ortiz
David Ortiz (34) rounds third base after hitting a home run during the first inning in game two of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
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The 2013 MLB Playoffs usually provide the stage for an inconspicuous player to become a hero. However, the 2013 MLB Playoffs have been a stage for players out of the Dominican Republic to shine. When their team needs them the most, David Ortiz, Pedro Alvarez and Hanley Ramirez have come up big, leading them to victory and are all now just one game from advancing to the League Championship Series. These Dominican baseball players are the reason why their teams could win it all. 

Pedro Alvarez 
Playing in his first MLB Playoffs, Alvarez is giving a reason for Piitsburgh fans to cheer and a reason for the small country in Hispanola to be extremely proud. The report on Alvarez is that he is not a contact hitter and that he can only hit home runs. However, in Game 3, it was not an Alvarez home run that won the game, instead, it was a base hit to right field that brought in the eventual game-winning run for the Pirates.

 Pedro Alvarez (24) hits a RBI single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the 8th inning in game three of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at PNC Park. Credit: H.Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports
Pedro Alvarez (24) hits a RBI single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the 8th inning in game three of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at PNC Park. Credit: H.Darr Beiser-USA TODAY Sports

After their 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pirates now stand a game away from advancing to the National League Championship Series. The question is, what will Alvarez do next? He homered in his first two postseason games and he will look to close the series with a RBI in every game in this series. 

Alvarez, who went to Vanderbilt and could be considered a little more of an Americanized Dominican, was born in raised in Washington Heights. This neighborhood is located in Northern Manhattan in New Yokr City and is heavily populated by migrants of the Dominican Republic. Alvarez is playing ball in Pittsburgh, but he is making a lot of people from many parts of the world very happy. 

Alvarez is hitting .385 with two home runs and five RBI. 

Hanley Ramirez  
He's healthy and Hanley is providing power for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who defeated the Atlanta Braves 13-6 on Sunday evening. In total, Ramirez is hitting .538 with three runs scored, a home run and six RBI. Ramirez has been around for a while, but like Alvarez, he is playing in his first postseason. 

Ramirez is taking advantage of his experience against Braves' pitching. As the former shortstop of the Miami Marlins, Ramirez saw plenty of the Braves while playing against the in the N.L. East. 

Hanley Ramirez (13) hits a triple in the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game three of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Hanley Ramirez (13) hits a triple in the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game three of the National League divisional series playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

 With Ramirez in their lineup, the Dodgers look unbeatable. Even when they lose, Ramirez is able to make noise. However, Ramirez will try to put the series away on Monday as Game 4 will be played at 9:30 p.m. ET

David Ortiz 
Is anybody surprised? Though he has aged, Ortiz is still one of the better sluggers in the game. Ortiz hit two home runs on Friday, providing insurance throughout the game, allowing his pitchers some room for error. Ortiz is a playoff veteran, there is no ned to brag about him. What he is doing in Boston, however, cannot go unwatched. He will try to bring a championship to Boston as they will look to capture their first title since 2007. 

Ortiz is hitting .375 in the first two games of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays. 

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