Mexican baseball manager Estrada found after disappearance

Francisco 'Paquin' Estrada, the manager of Mexican baseball club Bravos de Leon, was found Thursday, according to The Associated Press, hours after he was reported missing by club and league officials.

Club president Mauricio Martinez told reporters at a press conference that Estrada's disappearance may have been part of an extortion attempt, although he did say Estrada was not kidnapped.

According to Estrada's description of the events, he was coerced into staying in a hotel room for three nights by an unknown person, who only contacted him by telephone. The person kept tabs on the manager, and would not allow him to sleep, while quizzing him on strange questions such as what he was watching on television.

The Associated Press article speculates Estrada may have been a victim of "virtual kidnapping," where criminals hold a close friend or family member hostage while demanding ransom.

Estrada, 69, played one major-league game for the New York Mets in 1971 and coached the Tomateros de Culiacan to Caribbean Series titles in 1996 and 2002. He was also on the bench for Team Mexico at the 2006 World Baseball Classic.