Lucas Ramirez Hits Two Home Runs Against USA with Manny Ramirez in Attendance

Lucas Ramirez launched two solo home runs for Brazil against the United States in a World Baseball Classic matchup at Daikin Park.

Lucas Ramirez hit two home runs for Brazil on Friday night at Daikin Park during a World Baseball Classic matchup against the United States. The 20-year-old outfielder, wearing his father’s signature No. 24, connected for a leadoff home run in his first at-bat and followed with an eighth-inning solo shot. These Lucas Ramirez home runs accounted for two of Brazil's runs in a game where the Americans held leads of 2-1 and 8-5. The first blast came off a second-pitch offering from Logan Webb, landing in the right-field seats to narrow the deficit after Aaron Judge had given the U.S. a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the top of the frame.

In the eighth inning, Ramirez struck again, this time taking Gabe Speier deep to bring the score to 8-5. This performance occurred under the gaze of his father, 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez, who hit 555 home runs across a 19-year Major League career. The elder Ramirez, a two-time World Series champion and 2004 World Series MVP, watched from the stands as his son faced the tournament's top-ranked team. Lucas Ramirez qualified to represent Brazil through his mother, Juliana Ramirez, a native of Sao Paulo who was also present at the ballpark for the leadoff homer.

Professional Background and Draft History

Lucas Ramirez entered the World Baseball Classic following his selection by the Los Angeles Angels in the 17th round of the 2024 amateur draft. During the previous professional season in Class A, the young slugger posted a .266 batting average. His statistical line for that campaign included three home runs, 30 RBIs, and six stolen bases. Before the main tournament, he participated in the 2026 WBC qualifiers, where he recorded five hits in 13 at-bats to help Brazil advance.

The outfielder revealed that his first-inning success was the result of five months of mental preparation. Following nightly prayers, he visualized hitting a home run in his opening WBC at-bat. As he rounded the bases after the first blast, he shouted, "I told you," confirming the fulfillment of that specific visualization. He noted that this mental technique helps him manage the external pressure associated with his family name and the high expectations of spectators.

Family Legacy and Parental Support

Manny Ramirez expressed immense pride in his son’s development, noting that Lucas has been training rigorously throughout the entire year. The elder Ramirez described the U.S. squad as the "No. 1" team in the tournament, making the achievement more significant. He suggested that the multi-homer performance would provide a necessary confidence boost for the upcoming minor league season.

Juliana Ramirez, who typically remains at home with Lucas’s brother, made a rare appearance at the stadium to witness the game. Lucas described the event as the best day of his life, specifically citing the presence of both parents as a primary reason for his gratitude. While Manny attends the majority of his son's games, having his mother in the stands for the leadoff home run added emotional weight to the performance against the American roster.

Visualization and Identity on the Field

Navigating the shadow of a father who hit over 500 major league home runs is a central theme for the Angels prospect. Lucas Ramirez acknowledged that being the son of a legend presents a complex set of challenges, describing the situation as having both positive and negative aspects. He emphasized the necessity of "painting his own picture" and establishing an independent path as a ballplayer rather than simply being a legacy athlete.

By wearing No. 24, Lucas pays homage to his father’s career while simultaneously producing his own power numbers on the international stage. His 5-for-13 performance in the qualifiers established a foundation of consistency that translated into the two-homer output at Daikin Park. The ability to drive a pitch from a Major League starter like Logan Webb into the seats demonstrates the progress the 20-year-old has made since his .266 stint in Class A. As Brazil continues its tournament run, the younger Ramirez remains focused on the individual path he has visualized since the qualifying rounds.