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.”

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez in hospital ‘for kidney failure’

As reported at the UK Telegraph, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez is in the hospital in serious condition with kidney failure. Chavez has been battling cancer. PJ Media reports that the Chazez minions are denying the reports. Chavez’ peeps have denied many of the other illness and near death reports previously. Some have been accurate, some, not so much. Say tune …

The leftist, staunchly anti-US stalwart Chavez went into the Military Hospital in Caracas on Tuesday morning, the report on the newspaper’s website said, citing anonymous sources with knowledge of the case.

“He was in fairly serious overall condition,” a source told the Miami-based Spanish-language daily. “When he arrived, he was in quite serious shape and that is why he was brought in for emergency care.”

Venezuela’s Information Minister Andres Izarra appeared to deny the report in a posting on the micro-blogging website Twitter.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in Critical Condition In Cuban Hospital

According to FOX News, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is in critical condition in a Cuban hospital. The speculation is that the socialist leader has prostate cancer, although not confirmed. However, Chávez family did go to Cuba in the last 72 hours, according to wire service EFE. Hmm …

Hugo Chávez extended stay in a Cuban hospital is because he is in critical condition, according to a report in El Nuevo Herald.

The Venezuelan president, who was last seen in public June 9 and last heard from on June 12, on a phone call with Venezuelan state television, was said to have been treated for a pelvic abscess in Cuba.

But according to the report in El Nuevo Herald, Chávez finds himself in “critical condition, not grave, but critical, in a complicated situation.”During the call Chávez said that medical tests showed no sign of any “malignant” illness.

Something must be amiss as Chávez’s brother dan Chávez felt the need to say that the socialist dictator is recovering well. That must be code for, Chavez is in grave condition.

Before the report that Chávez was in critical condition, his brother sought to reassure Venezuela that he was recovering well.

“In response to all the rumors, I can give faith that the president is recovering in a satisfactory manner,” Adan Chávez, who is a state governor, told state television Wednesday. “The president is a strong man.”

UPDATE I: Is Hugo Chavez Dead? The Lonely Conservative is reporting that the rumors are flying that Chavez is dead.However, nothing yet has been officially confirmed. Oh the irony … how’s that socialized medicine working out for you Hugo? Can we say death panels?

Wikileaks Argentina tweeted earlier today:

“BREAKING NEWS! The president of Venezuela Hugo Chavez died in Cuba this morning. 06/25/2011 08:43AM”