Major hunt launched in Washington Nationals' baseball player Wilson Ramos abduction case

(CBS/WCCO/AP) CARACAS, Venezuela - Police in Venezuela have found the car used to kidnap Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, seen as one of the team's most promising players.

According to CBS affiliate WCCO, Ramos was at a family home Wednesday night near Valencia, when armed men stormed inside, kidnapped him and threw him in a van. He was evidently talking with his father and brothers when he was taken.

There is also no word on a ransom demand. According a Venezuelan baseball official, the abductors haven't made contact with the player's family.

"So far, we have not had any communication with the kidnappers," said Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami. "As soon as we became aware of this incident, we got in touch with a team of specialists from the highest level from the CICPC (Scientific and Forensic Police), headed by the sub-director of the CICPC, Commissioner Luis Carabin, and the best specialists in kidnapping, in intelligence, in criminal investigation."

Ramos is a catcher for the Washington Nationals. He had a .267 batting average with 15 homeruns and 52 runs batted in for Washington in the 2011 season. The Nationals acquired him from the Twins in July of 2010, when the Twins traded for pitcher Matt Capps.

The 24-year-old was in Venezuela, preparing to play for a Venezuelan baseball team during the off-season. His fellow teammates on the Nationals have expressed concern for his safety. Drew Storen tweeted, "extremely upsetting news about Ramo. Thoughts and prayers with him. Scary situation."

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