Ramirez Apologizes to Fans, Teammates

Manny Ramriez has walked in his first at-bat since his 50-day suspension for violating baseball's drug policy ended.

Los Angles Dodgers' Manny Ramirez walks with agent Scott Borasm second from right, to Petco Park prior to the Dodgers' baseball game against the San Diego Padres Friday, July 3, 2009, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)

(AP)

San Diego Padres right-hander Chad Gaudin brushed back the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger with his first pitch of the seven-pitch at-bat. Ramirez was then forced at second on Andre Ethier's grounder to first.

It was a loud at-bat, with Dodgers fans standing and cheering, and Padres fans trying to drown them out with boos. The sold-out crowd at Petco Park looked and sounded more like it belonged at Dodger Stadium.

Ramirez spent the moments before the first pitch hugging and fist-bumping teammates in the dugout. He hadn't played with them since May 6, the night before his suspension was announced.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Manny Ramirez returned to the big leagues as only he could.

Wearing sunglasses and with his famous dreadlocks in a ponytail, the Los Angeles Dodgers' slugger apologized to fans and teammates during a news conference Friday afternoon. He refused to answer questions about steroids, laying off them as if they were pitches in the dirt.

"I'm here. I'm excited. I can't wait to get into the field," Ramirez said as his 50-day suspension for violating baseball's drug policy ended.

How he'll hit remains to be seen. But he was cheered by a hundred or so fans as he bounded up the dugout steps and onto the field at Petco Park two hours before the first pitch of the Dodgers' game against the San Diego Padres.

There was a playoff atmosphere during batting practice, with dozens of photographers following Ramirez and extra security on the field.

Ramirez also brought along a new catch phrase.

"Showtime tonight!" he said as he walked out of his pregame news conference.

Ramirez's ban was based on evidence he used human chorionic gonadotropin, a fertility drug that's banned by baseball, a person familiar with the suspension told The Associated Press after the suspension was announced on May 7, speaking on condition of anonymity because those details were not released.