Dominican player Hanley Ramirez of the Miami Marlins signs deal to wear New Balance cleats

Dominican player Hanley Ramirez has been one of the most talked Dominican baseball players in recent years. He had a down year last year.  He is off to a slow start this year.  But the Dominican Baseball Guy still says he is a perennial MVP candidate, and has the sweetest swing in the game.

Ramirez will be wearing a brand new line of custom New Balance baseball cleats this season as he roams the left side of the infield for the Miami Marlins, according to a press release from New Balance.  The shoes (christened the MB4040 baseball spikes) look pretty slick, and according to Ramirez they are one of the top shoes on the market:

“The 4040 is light and comfortable, I feel speedy, and they also look good. New Balance has the whole package,” says Ramirez.

As part of the deal, New Balance has agreed to support Ramirez in his charitable endeavors throughout the course of the contract.  To start that charitable partnership the Dominican player Ramirez and New Balance will auction off a pair of game-worn, signed cleats for the benefit of the Marlins Foundation.

Hanley Ramirez is excited about the possibility of helping people in the Miami area and in his home country:

“I’m also looking forward to working with a brand that will help me achieve my goal to help people in need here and in the Dominican.”

Great to see Dominican baseball players giving back to their home country.  Any charitable efforts in the Dominican Republic are surely needed and appreciated, especially among the youth of the country.

And again, the cleats are sick, certainly not you grandfathers baseball spikes: