ST. LOUIS -- Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos arrived while the team was taking batting practice prior to Sunday's 6-1 victory at Busch Stadium against the Cardinals, and was greeted with hugs from numerous teammates. He had been away from the club since Tuesday, when he was placed on the bereavement list after the death of his grandfather, Jesus Campos. He was 79.
Ramos returned from his home in Venezuela Sunday afternoon and was officially activated prior to the game.
"Right now, I feel a little bit better," Ramos said after the game. "But it's still hard. The last couple days were very bad. Nobody wants to lose family. That's part of the life. You got to keep it going."
Campos had been battling illness for the past six years, and although Ramos had been told by doctors to prepare for the worst, he still said it was impossible to be ready. Ramos was close with his grandfather, working together with him at a fruit store when he was younger. Campos also taught the Nats catcher how to play baseball.
"When I did it, he was very excited because that was his dream, to see his sons or me or my brothers, Ramos said." "But I did it. He was really really happy to see me here."
Ramos did not appear in Sunday's game against Cardinals and will not start Monday because left-hander Gio Gonzalez will be on the mound using Jose Lobaton as his personal catcher. The Nationals also want to ease Ramos back in and let him go through a full pregame before he appears in a game.
When he does return he should provide a boost to the Nationals offense. He is hitting .316 with four doubles, and two home runs in 15 games.
"Everybody here gives me good support," Ramos said. "This is my other family. I know it's hard but I'm very happy to be here again because this is the only thing I can do to turn the page and do something different and not think too much. I'm happy to be here again."
Catcher Pedro Severino was optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse after his first stint in the Majors this season. He made one start, on April 28 against the Phillies, and went 0-for-2 with a walk.