Team Brazil delivered a stunning performance that rattled the highly-favoured Team USA during the opening game of the World Baseball Classic on Friday evening in Houston. The dramatic scare was largely orchestrated by a pair of powerful home runs from a player bearing a legendary surname.
A Legacy Continues with Power Hitting
Lucas Ramirez, the twenty-year-old son of iconic slugger Manny Ramirez, announced his arrival on the international stage by taking San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb deep to lead off the bottom of the first inning. This 2-1 blast immediately halved the American lead, which had been established moments earlier by Aaron Judge's two-run shot in the top of the frame.
The younger Ramirez was far from finished. He followed his initial heroics with a second, crucial home run in the eighth inning, this time off Seattle Mariners southpaw reliever Gabe Speier. That powerful swing narrowed Team USA's advantage to a precarious 8-5 scoreline, injecting serious tension into the contest.
Fatherly Pride and a Special Connection
Wearing his father's iconic number 24, Lucas Ramirez is eligible to represent Brazil through his mother, Juliana, who was born and raised in Sao Paulo. She was present in the Houston ballpark, beaming with pride after her son's first-inning blast sailed over the right field wall.
"I was looking forward to him doing something special," Manny Ramirez told The Associated Press, his voice filled with emotion. "He's been working so hard all year round, and I'm incredibly proud of him." The elder Ramirez, a two-time World Series champion and the 2004 World Series MVP for the Boston Red Sox, expressed that while he would have been thrilled to see his son homer against any opponent, doing so against the tournament's top-ranked team made the moment uniquely significant.
"Oh yeah, they're number one," Manny stated, acknowledging the calibre of the opposition. He believes this high-pressure success will provide a vital confidence boost for Lucas's upcoming professional season. "It's going to be more special for him because that's going to give him momentum—he's going to be ready for the season. I hope he does well. I'm proud of him. Thank God for this opportunity that he has."
Emerging Talent on the World Stage
Lucas Ramirez, a 17th-round selection by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2024 MLB draft, spent the previous season honing his skills in Class A baseball. There, he posted a respectable .266 batting average, alongside three home runs, thirty runs batted in, and six stolen bases. He also gained valuable international experience during the 2026 WBC qualifiers for Brazil, where he went 5 for 13 at the plate.
His performance on Friday was not an isolated incident of rookie prowess against Major League pitching; it was a statement of intent from a young player carrying a famous legacy.
Another Legacy Player Shines for Brazil
Lucas Ramirez was not the only son of a former Major League star to excel for Team Brazil during the tense opener. Joseph Contreras, the son of Cuban-born pitcher and former New York Yankees starter José Contreras, also made a critical defensive contribution. The seventeen-year-old high school senior induced current Yankees superstar Aaron Judge to ground into an inning-ending double play, showcasing that Brazil's threat was multifaceted.
Like Ramirez, Joseph Contreras qualifies for the Brazilian team through his mother's birthplace, further highlighting how the nation—not traditionally known as a baseball powerhouse—is leveraging its diaspora to build a competitive squad.
Looking Ahead in the Tournament
Following this electrifying opener, Team USA is scheduled to host Great Britain on Saturday in Houston. Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is expected to take the mound for the Americans as they seek to rebound from a surprisingly challenging start.
Great Britain's roster presents its own intriguing storyline, featuring Nassau, Bahamas native and New York Yankees slugger Jazz Chisholm, ensuring the global flavour of the World Baseball Classic continues to captivate fans worldwide.
