It is one of the mysteries of modern baseball how some former players have been able to survive their connection to steroids and PEDs, while others have seemingly been banished from the sport. For those who are unable to overcome it, it can be a difficult journey.
Former Cleveland star Manny Ramirez certainly earned his reputation as a player who broke the rules. But the 12-time All-Star is hoping the sport will give him one more chance.
According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, Ramirez continues to look for an MLB job as a hitting coach and is willing to work his way through the minors to get one.
“Manny Ramirez is seeking a hitting coach job in MLB, agent Hector Zepeda said. Ramirez, who hit 555 HRs and batted .312, last worked as a player/coach for the Sydney Blue Sox in Australia in 2020-21. He’s so determined to get back in the game he’s willing to go to the minors,” Heyman posted.
Manny Ramirez is seeking a hitting coach job in MLB, agent Hector Zepeda said. Ramirez, who hit 555 HRs and batted .312, last worked as a player/coach for the Sydney Blue Sox in Australia in 2020-21. He's so determined to get back in the game he’s willing to go to the minors.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 5, 2026
If his knowledge would translate, it would be difficult to find a better teacher than Ramirez. Considered one of the best hitters of his generation, and among the best of all time, the outfielder made his major league debut for Cleveland in 1993 and played eight seasons with the franchise.
His .592 slugging percentage ranks first, his 236 home runs rank fourth, his 804 RBIs rank ninth, and his .313 batting average ranks 12th in franchise history. After a dispute with management over his willingness to play through a hamstring injury, Ramirez left Cleveland as a free agent and signed with the Boston Red Sox, where he went on to win two World Series championships and led the league in batting one year and home runs in another.
After being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2008 season, Ramirez was suspended for 50 games during the 2009 campaign for failing a PED test. In 2011, then with the Tampa Bay Rays, Ramirez was facing a second violation, but rather than face a 100-game suspension, he decided to retire.
Those transgressions have undoubtedly kept him out of the Baseball Hall of Fame and limited his post-playing options. He did work for the Chicago Cubs organization from 2014-16 as a Triple-A hitting instructor and is now looking for another opportunity.
It will be interesting to see if a team will give Ramirez that chance, and how successful the 54-year-old could be with it.
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