For the last half of May, the Tampa Bay Rays, as well as their opponents, have been wearing a green ribbon on the upper left corner of the front of their jerseys. The ribbon was added in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.
The Rays first chose to bring attention to Mental Health Awareness following the January 2022 suicide of Jean Ramirez, a former Minor League ballplayer in the Rays system who, at the time of his passing, was serving as the club’s Major League-level bullpen catcher. The Rays initially added the ribbon to their jerseys throughout the entire month of May 2022 and have continued to do so (as well as their opponents) during a single May homestand in each of the 2023, 2024, and now 2025 seasons.
In 2025, the three opponents who will join the Rays in wearing the green ribbon will be the Houston Astros (May 19-21), Toronto Blue Jays (May 23-25), and Minnesota Twins (May 26-28).
Ramirez was only 28 years old when he took his own life.
“The loss of our son has been the most excruciating experience we have lived. Unfortunately, we sometimes don’t see the signs. Struggling in silence is not ok,” his family said in a statement shortly after his death. “Our commitment is to honour our son’s life by helping other families. No parent should have to endure the loss of their child.”
Jean Ramirez was born in Puerto Rico and attended high school in Texas. He was drafted by the Rays in 2016 in the 28th round out of Illinois State. After three seasons in the Rays system, Ramirez took on a new role as the club’s Major League bullpen catcher in 2019.
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash remembered Ramirez in 2022: “he brought so much passion and energy each day to our clubhouse and bullpen, and his love for the Rays and baseball was evident to all who interacted with him.”
If you or a loved one needs assistance, please call or text the suicide helpline at 9-8-8 in Canada and the United States
