Wilson Ramos rescued by Venezuelan police

Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was rescued by Venezuelan police Friday two days after he was kidnapped by armed men in his native country.

Venezuelan Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami announced on state television that Ramos was rescued by police and that he was "safe and sound." The news was first reported on Twitter by Information Minister Andres Izarra, who wrote, "The baseball player Ramos found alive by security forces in mountainous zone."

The circumstances behind Ramos' rescue weren't immediately clear.

Ramos, who was a rookie this last season with the Nationals, was abduced at gunpoint outside his home in the city of Valencia.

Kidnappings have increased with regularity in Venezuela in recent years, but this was believed to be the first adbuction involving a Major League Baseball player. Many major league players employ bodyguards to protect them while playing winter league baseball in the country.

We'll have more on Ramos' rescue later at latimes.com/sports.

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-- Austin Knoblauch

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos. Credit: Nick Wass / Associated Press