Report: Documents Say Hanley Ramirez Not Under Federal Investigation

Former Boston Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez is not under federal investigation for possible involvement with a drug ring, the Boston Globe reported Sunday, contradicting a Friday report by an ABC News reporter.

According to the Globe story, which cited documents filed in U.S. District Court in Boston, Ramirez’s name surfaced when a friend from the Dominican Republic was stopped in April by Massachusetts State Police after the DEA received a tip that the man was transporting cocaine.

The man claimed that a box in his vehicle contained books that belonged to Ramirez, and called Ramirez via FaceTime before handing his phone to a state trooper. Ramirez denied knowledge of the box when asked by the trooper and gave permission for the box to be searched. It contained two kilograms of fentanyl.

The driver was arrested, then changed his story, saying the box didn’t belong to Ramirez.

The friend’s lawyer told the Globe that his client used Ramirez’s name “to get the cops off his back, which didn’t work.”

Ramirez was designated for assignment May 25 by the Red Sox and released June 1 after clearing waivers. After the initial report Friday that Ramirez was involved in a drug investigation, Red Sox officials denied knowledge of any such investigation and said Ramirez was released for baseball reasons only.

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Ramirez, 34, hasn’t signed with another team.

Ramirez’s agent, Adam Katz, said Sunday in a statement, “The reporting on Hanley’s involvement in this matter was reckless and irresponsible. It’s unfortunate that one careless, inaccurate story can generate such widespread negative and damaging coverage. Hanley is pleased to be absolved from wrongdoing and having any involvement in this matter.”