Washington Nationals Catcher Kidnapped

Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos has been abducted by gunmen in his hometown in Venezuela. The 24-year-old player was taken away in an SUV by four men who stormed his family's home in Santa Ines, some 100 miles west of Caracas, said a spokeswoman for his winter team, the Aragua Tigers.

Family members of wealthy athletes in Venezuela are often targeted by kidnappers, but this is believed to be the first time an MLB player has been kidnapped, reports AP. The kidnappers have yet to contact the Ramos family, says a source close to the family. The Nationals plan to issue a statement about Ramos, who is one of the team's rising stars. (More kidnapping stories.)