When the Houston Dynamo meet LAFC in their MLS is Back Tournament opener tonight (8 pm ET | FS1, TUDN, TSN, TVAS) in Orlando, they’ll be without Christian Ramirez.
While the forward will be an absence for the Dynamo, it’s because he welcomed in an addition to his family, returned to Houston for the birth of his child — Nova Reign Ramirez.
The 29-year-old California native scored five goals in 10 appearances for the Dynamo a year ago after arriving in a midseason trade from LAFC, where he had six goals in one-and-a-half seasons for Bob Bradley’s squad.
Ramirez's decision echoes that of LAFC star Carlos Vela elected not to join his team in Orlando because his wife is pregnant with the couple's second child.