http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/wilson-ramos-kidnapped-in-venezuala-mlb_n_1085461.html

Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos (3) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

JORGE RUEDA 11/ 9/11 11:39 PM ETAssociated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela — 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.

She said Ramos was taken at 6:45 p.m. at his home in the region 95 miles (150 kilometers) west of Caracas. She said police were notified.

A person close to Ramos' family, who asked not to be quoted by name out of safety concerns, said the catcher was at home with his father and brothers when several men "entered the house and took him away."

"As of this hour, there has been no contact" between the kidnappers and Ramos' family, the person said.

Drew Storen, a relief pitcher for the Nationals, tweeted his concerns: "Extremely upsetting news about Ramo. Thoughts and prayers with him. Scary situation."

Spokesmen for the Nationals did not respond immediately to phone and email messages Wednesday night.

Ramos is considered one of the Nationals' key young players as they try to become a contender in the National League East. As a rookie in 2011, he hit .267 with 15 home runs and 52 RBIs in 113 games. He also threw out 19 of 67 runners attempting to steal a base, a 28 percent success rate that ranked third among qualifying catchers in the National League.