Blacktown set to welcome Boston Red Sox legend Manny Ramirez for his Sydney Blue Sox debut

Boston Red Sox legend Manny Ramirez Ramirez smashed 555 home runs and 1831 RBIs in the majors – now Sydney gets to see the global star in action.

Baseball legend Manny Ramirez is going to hit ‘some long balls’ for the Sydney Blue Sox this season. Picture: AP/Charles/Krupa

Baseball history will be made in Blacktown on Thursday night when a strong crowd welcomes Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez for his Sydney Blue Sox debut.

All roads lead to the Blacktown International Sports Park when Ramirez dons the Blue Sox’s colours as player/coach against defending champions the Melbourne Aces from 7.30pm.

Blue Sox’s gameday patron Krissie Webb confirmed the club had sold 800 tickets for the Aces clash in a 1200-seat capacity venue.

“We will have to social distance due to COVID restrictions, but we’ve had a lot of interest from people to come and see Manny play,” Webb said.

“I want to see the man hit a home run on his first hit.”

Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez makes his Sydney Blue Sox debut on Thursday night. Picture: Nick Laham/Getty Images/AFP

Ramirez may be 48 and well past his prime years, but his signing is a major coup given his experience at the top of baseball.

The Dominican Republic-born star is a Major League Baseball veteran of 19 years, a 12-time All-Star and a two-time World Series Champion.

Ramirez has made approximately $288 million in salary throughout his career and is certainly the best-credentialled and most notable signing in Australian Baseball League history.

The Red Sox legend’s last MLB game was back in 2011, and he last played professionally in Japan in 2017, but he still draws a seven-figure salary from the Red Sox until 2026 as part of a payout deal.

Sydney Blue Sox manager Shane Barclay is expecting Ramirez to add to his 555 home runs and 1831 RBIs in the majors while in the Harbour City.

“We knew there’d be a Manny Show, but it’s been a pleasure,” Barclay said.

“The buy-in from him (Manny) has been magnificent and just watching him swing a bat, you’re going there’s no way this guy is 48. He’s an incredible athlete. He’s legit and here to play and has bought in. He’s going to hit some long balls this season.

“He’s bought into the team and what these guys have got.”

Barclay said Ramirez had worked seamlessly with the club’s new hitting coach Rachel Balkovec – the first ever full-time female hitting coach for a Major League Baseball team in the USA.

Balkovec comes to the Sydney Blue Sox from the New York Yankees where she has been a hitting coach for the last year.

“Rachel and Manny together as a package is phenomenal,” he said.

“Whatever she’s teaching or helping with, Manny is there taking it in as well.

“And he’ll just complement what she says and maybe add one little comment on top of it that resonates with these kids.”