Rays bullpen catcher Jean Ramirez dies at age 28

The native of Puerto Rico played three years in Tampa Bay’s minor-league system before joining the big-league staff.

ST. PETERSBURG — Rays bullpen catcher Jean Ramirez died unexpectedly Monday at age 28, the team announced.

Baseball operations president Erik Neander said in a statement posted on the team’s Twitter account late Tuesday afternoon that it was an “unexpected and difficult loss.” The Rays provided no other details.