Dominican professional baseball shortstop Hanley Ramirez was just recently introduced as a member of the Boston Red Sox. He returns to the team almost nine years after he was first drafted in 2005.

The free agent was visibly happy when he returned to the ball club that developed his skills into the three-time All-star and 2006 NL Rookie of the Year he has evolved into. He will be switching to left field for the Red Sox.

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"It's funny, after I got traded to Miami, after my second, third year in Miami, people was telling me 'you're going back to Boston, you're going back to Boston,' and I was laughing," Ramirez said.

He went on to recount that when he got to free agency this year, he heard that the Red Sox wanted him and the news made him happy for himself and for his family.

General Manager Ben Cherington wasn't as gracious with his introductions. He said that at 17 years old, Ramirez wasn't a very good shortstop when he signed.

However, Cherington adds, that he has become a good shortstop because he is such a good athlete. His hard work has made him a major league short stop.

"He's just a great athlete with great instincts."

Ramirez's press conference came only a few hours after fellow free agent Pablo Sandoval made his deal with the Red Sox official.

Ramirez and Sandoval spent the past two seasons as NL West rivals. Now though, they are teammates, as they try to boost the Red Sox out of the AL East cellar.

The two new acquisitions are expected to strengthen the middle of the Red Sox order that saw production in 2014 from 37-year-old David Ortiz.

The 30-year-old has played 128 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014. He has hit .283 with 13 home runs and 71 RBIs.

TagsHanley Ramirez, boston red sox