Venezuelan baseball star is kidnapped

Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos has been kidnapped from his home in his native Venezuela.

The 24-year-old was taken from his home in Santa Ines at gunpoint by four men at 1845 local time (2315GMT on Wednesday). He had returned to his homeland to play for his Venezuelan League team, the Aragua Tigres, during the Major League off-season.

Kathe Vilera, a spokeswoman for the Tigres, confirmed the news on Twitter, writing: "Wilson Ramos kidnapped at his home in Santa Ines, Edo. Carabobo. It's sad, disturbing and true that Wilson Ramos has been abducted."

Around an hour later, Vilera wrote: "Still no news of Wilson Ramos ... Just know that four gunmen took him in a pickup truck from his home in Santa Ines."

Ramos joined the Nationals in July 2010 in a trade deal with the Minnesota Twins, with closer Matt Capps heading in the other direction. In 113 appearances last season he recorded 15 home runs and 52 RBIs, and prevented 19 of 67 attempts to steal bases.