Police Find SUV Used to Kidnap Wilson Ramos

Nov. 10, 2011— -- Police say they have found the car used by armed men to kidnap Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos from his home near Caracas, Venezuela.

Ramos, 24, was abducted and taken away Wednesday evening in an SUV by four men in Santa Ines, in central Carabobo.

Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami told reporters today the vehicle was found abandoned in a nearby town.

"It's a very important find," he said, adding that anti-kidnapping units with top-notch investigators have been dispatched to central Carabobo state.

Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals issued a joint statement today, saying, "Our foremost concern is with Wilson Ramos and his family and our thoughts are with them at this time. Major League Baseball's Department of Investigations is working with the appropriate authorities on this matter. Both Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals have been instructed to make no further comment."

Katherine Vilera, a spokesman for Ramos' Venezuelan League team, the Aragua Tigers, tweeted, "This is sad, worrisome and true that Wilson Ramos has been kidnapped."

According to Vilera, Ramos was taken at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday from his home, which is approximately 95 miles west of the Venezuela's capital city of Caracas.

U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said they have not been in touch with the family or with Major League Baseball, but said, "we stand by to help in whatever way possible the family, if they contact us."

"It's obviously of great concern to us," Toner said. "We condemn these kinds of violent acts."

An unidentified source close to the Ramos family told The Associated Press that his father and brothers were also home 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 told the AP.

Ramos is considered a major up-and-coming young player in the league. In 2011 as a rookie 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.

Venezuela is home to a dozen major league baseball players. Families of wealthy athletes in the country have been targeted in the past by kidnappers hoping to gain a quick and hefty ransom. In 2009 the 56-year-old mother of retired player Victor Zambrano was rescued after a three-day kidnapping ordeal.

ABC News reporter Kirit Radia and The Associated Press contributed to this report.