Even in a loss, Jose Ramirez found a way to make history.
Tuesday night in St. Louis ended in heartbreak for the Cleveland Guardians, a 6-5 extra innings defeat that slipped away in the ninth inning. But before the bullpen let things unravel, Ramirez stepped into the batter’s box in the first inning and did what he has done 288 times in his career.
He hit the ball over the fence.
Hosey is still that dude.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/1QLQ1FtB6c
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 15, 2026
And this time, it meant something beyond just a run on the scoreboard.
Cleveland beat reporter Joe Noga put the moment into historical context.
“Jose Ramirez has moved past Bernie Williams and Bobby Bonilla into sole possession of 11th place for career home runs by a switch-hitter with 288. His first-inning blast has the Guardians up 1-0 in St. Louis. Next on the list is Ruben Sierra at No. 10 with 306,” Noga posted.
José Ramírez has moved past Bernie Williams and Bobby Bonilla into sole possession of 11th place for career home runs by a switch-hitter with 288. His first inning blast has the Guardians up, 1-0, in St. Louis. Next on the list is Ruben Sierra at No. 10 with 306. pic.twitter.com/7XCnYJbUA0
— Joe Noga (@JoeNogaCLE) April 14, 2026
The blast was also Ramirez’s 200th career home run batting from the left side of the plate, a milestone within a milestone that speaks to the sustained excellence he has brought to this franchise for over a decade. Switch hitters who generate genuine power from both sides of the plate are extraordinarily rare in baseball. Ramirez has been doing it consistently.
The next name on the list is Ruben Sierra, who sits at 306 home runs at number 10 on the all-time switch-hitter list. That is 18 home runs away for Ramirez, a gap that could realistically be covered this season.
Ramirez has been the face of this organization through multiple division titles, multiple postseason runs, and through a roster rebuild that transformed this team from the Indians into the Guardians. He has turned down larger contracts elsewhere to remain in Cleveland. He has been the constant in a lineup that has changed dramatically around him.
And he is still making history in his 30s with no signs of slowing down.
Tuesday night ended badly for the Guardians. But what Ramirez did in the first inning at Busch Stadium belongs to a much longer story than any single game outcome.
NEXT: Guardians Blow Late Lead In Painful Loss To Cardinals
