MLB Catcher Wilson Ramos of the Washington Nationals Kidnapped in Venezuela (UPDATE: Rescued, Found Alive)

Wilson Ramos, a catcher with the Washington nationals has been kidnapped in his native country of Venezuela. According to reports, Ramos was abducted from his home by multiple gunman.  Vilera tweeted that four armed men in an SUV took Ramos from his home in Santa Ines in central Carabobo state. The family lives about 95 miles west of Caracas.  To this point there have been no ransom demands.

Professional baseball player Wilson Ramos, a catcher seen as one of the young building blocks for the Washington Nationals, was abducted by gunmen Wednesday from his home in his native Venezuela.

Ramos, a 24-year-old who just finished his rookie season, was taken away in an SUV by four armed men in Santa Ines in central Carabobo state, the spokeswoman for his Venezuelan League team, the Aragua Tigers, said on her official Twitter account.

“This is sad, worrisome and true that Wilson Ramos has been kidnapped,” Katherine Vilera wrote.

UPDATE I: Wilson Ramos found safe in Venezuela, freed from kidnappers. Ramos was rescued by Venezuela police, his agent, Gustavo Mercano, said in a phone conversation … “They got him. He’s safe.”

The Venezuelan Information Minister confirmed that Ramos was found safely by authorities in Montalban, a mountainous area of Carabobo state. Carabobo is the state in which Ramos‘ hometown of Santa Ines is located. Ramos was rescued roughly 10 minutes away from where the car used to abduct him was found abandoned on Thursday morning in Bejuma.

The Venezuelan Internal Affairs minister reported that the authorities had three kidnappers in custody so it was presumed this was a rescue operation and ransom was not involved. One of the kidnappers was said to be a Columbian “linked to paramilitary groups and to kidnapping groups.”

UPDATE II: Statement from the Washington Nationals:

“I am happy to announce that I have spoken directly with Wilson and he assures me he is unharmed but eager to be reunited with his family. He asked me to thank all who played a role in his rescue, and all those who kept him and his family in their thoughts and prayers. I join Wilson in thanking the many law enforcement officials in Venezuela and investigators with Major League Baseball who worked tirelessly to ensure a positive ending to what has been a frightening ordeal. The only detail that concerns us tonight is that Wilson is safe. The entire Washington Nationals family is thankful that Wilson Ramos is coming home.”