Guardians Star Showed That He Can Still Take Over A Game

Cleveland Guardians superstar Jose Ramirez finished the regular season as a below-average hitter, with a 92 wRC+, just 12 home runs, and a .235 batting average. He hadn’t been this bad at the plate since 2015.

Additionally, he entered Wednesday’s Game 3 of the AL Division Series on a 0-for-6 rut in the postseason, with two walks and three strikeouts. The broken hamate bone he suffered in June effectively ruined his season, or at least his stats.

However, you don’t underestimate the heart of a giant. And Ramirez, who is 5’8”, is the definition of a giant in baseball terms even if he’s not big in size.

On the brink of elimination, J-Ram took over and made an impact on just about every at-bat. He went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs, two RBI, a double, a triple, and a stolen base. His fingerprints (and footprints) were all over the Guardians’ 9-3 win that extended the AL Division Series until Thursday, at least.

His first at-bat was a 107.9-mph lineout. Evidently, he was making some good contact and let that be known from the go. He then walked in the Guardians’ four-run third inning and scored one of those runs on Jo Adell’s triple.

In the fifth inning, after the White Sox had gotten one run closer and the game was 4-2, Ramirez took over the frame. He led off with a 106.5-mph double, stole third base, and scored on a Chase DeLauter groundout, showcasing his trademark hustle and speed:

Vintage José Ramírez.#GuardsBall | StandGuard pic.twitter.com/ODehNqYItY

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 7, 2026

He popped out in the seventh, but hit a two-run triple in the eighth to make it a 7-3 ballgame. Every time Chicago flirted with a comeback, there was Ramirez, ready to extend the lead and make a play.

This game can do wonders for Ramirez’s confidence going forward. His team certainly needs him at his best, and he showed us all that elite version on Wednesday.

Yes, the hand injury is still a factor, and we might not see Ramirez fully healthy until next year. However, he can make an impact even at 60 percent capacity, and he showed as much on Wednesday.

If the Guardians are going to tie the AL Division Series on Thursday, it will likely be because Ramirez had another excellent game.