Manny Ramirez To Join River Cats

West Sacramento, Calif. - Baseball icon Manny Ramirez is set to join the Sacramento River Cats roster for 10 games, with his Raley Field debut scheduled for Friday, May 25, the Oakland Athletics announced today.

Ramirez is eligible to play 10 minor league games in advance of being activated from his current 50-game suspension. According to the Athletics, Ramirez will play all 10 minor league games with the River Cats, the A's Triple-A affiliate.

His first game with the Cats is scheduled for Saturday, May 19, against the Albuquerque Isotopes at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, N.M. Saturday's first pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. PDT and can be heard locally on KSTE 650 AM or online at rivercats.com.

In conjunction with Ramirez' appearance in Sacramento, the River Cats are offering a special deal for fans who purchase tickets for the Sunday, May 27 or Monday, May 28 home games at Raley Field. For each ticket purchased in the Senate, Governor's Club or Raley's Diamond Club sections, fans will be given one ticket in the same section to the June 20 (12:05 p.m.) or June 27 (7:05 p.m.) home games.

Fans can also purchase a limited-edition Manny Pack, which includes 20 or 40 River Cats ticket vouchers (good for any game this season). In addition to the game vouchers, both Manny Packs come with a Manny Ramirez River Cats t-shirt, while supplies last. For more information or to purchase a Manny Pack, fans can call the River Cats at (916) 376-HITS (4487).

Ramirez is eligible to play in Major League games beginning Wednesday, May 30, when the A's take on the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis. The former Indians, Red Sox, Dodgers, White Sox and Rays slugger currently sits 14th all-time with 555 home runs and 18th all-time with 1,831 RBIs. He has not appeared in a Major League game since April of 2011, when he appeared in five games with the Tampa Bay Rays.

2012 River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, Flex Plans and group outings can be purchased by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). Individual game tickets, starting at $8, are available online at ticketmaster.com and at Raley Field's Round Table Pizza Ticket Office. For more information about the 2012 River Cats season, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.