Chad Nacapoy and Jim Ramos were fairly familiar with each other whenever the Cal State Los Angeles and Cal Poly Pomona baseball teams met the last two seasons.
Nacapoy served as a catcher for Cal State L.A. and Ramos was the head coach at Cal Poly Pomona. The two crossed paths at Pomona last spring when Nacapoy attended an invitational tryout with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The two exchanged greetings and would keep in touch during the next several months before Nacapoy was scooped up by Tampa Bay in the 38th round in the 2012 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft in June.
Ramos contacted Nacapoy, a Crescenta Valley High graduate, and inquired about the possibility of him becoming a member of Team Philippines in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier. Ramos was the manager of Team Philippines.
Nacapoy didn’t waste any time considering the offer, though he first needed clearance from the Rays. Once Tampa Bay granted Nacapoy permission after he finished up with the Princeton Rays, a rookie affiliate, Nacapoy prepared for the international stage.
