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    November 10, 2011

Venezuelan Major League Baseball Player Kidnapped

   VOA News
   Washington Nationals' Wilson Ramos hitting a sacrifice bunt to drive in
   teammate Michael Morse for the go-ahead run in the seventh inning
   against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park in Washington, July 6, 2011.
   Photo: AP
   Washington Nationals' Wilson Ramos hitting a sacrifice bunt to drive in
   teammate Michael Morse for the go-ahead run in the seventh inning
   against the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park in Washington, July 6, 2011.

   Venezuelan national and U.S. Major League Baseball player Wilson Ramos
   has been kidnapped from a home in Venezuela, where he was playing for a
   local team during the offseason.
   Ramos had been visiting with family at a private home in the city of
   Valencia on Wednesday when several men broke in, snatched him and took
   him away in a van or an SUV.
   During the Major League Baseball season, the 24-year-old catcher plays
   for the Washington Nationals. He was in Venezuela to play with his
   winter league team, the Aragua Tigers.
   Kidnappings of high-profile people are common in Venezuela and are
   usually carried out for financial motives.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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