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Manny Ramirez Shows Up to Spring Training With Family, Says He’s ‘Thankful’ to Have a Job (Photos)

Manny Ramirez returned to the baseball field on Friday when he showed up to Oakland A's camp in Phoenix. He claims that this time around he's a changed man.

The slugger returned to work after signing a minor league deal with the A's last week, and with his family nearby, Ramirez admitted to making some mistakes in the past.

"I made some mistakes and I want to show my children I can correct them," Ramirez told reporters Friday. "Every Thursday morning my wife and I went to church, kneeled down and prayed. I am blessed to have this opportunity again."

Ramirez was arrested in September after following a domestic dispute in which he allegedly slapped his wife in the face, but at least in the public eye, that looks to be resolved.

Ramirez will have to sit out 50 games before he's able to make an impact with Oakland as he'll have to serve another suspension that he was given for violating the league's drug policy early in the 2011 season. Instead of serving that ban while playing with Tampa Bay last season, Ramirez opted to walk away from the game.

Now, he claims he's thankful for one more chance.

"I'm thankful that I have a job," Ramirez said. "At least I can still play baseball in the minor leagues and work on things."

However, it wasn't a day completely devoid of Manny hi-jinks. 

"Manny just asked if I was the video coordinator," tweeted A's starting pitcher Brett Anderson. "Our relationship can only go up from here."

Click here to see photos from Manny Ramirez's first day at A's camp>>