Everybody knows that Cleveland Guardians slugger Jose Ramirez isn’t playing at 100 percent. He had hamate bone surgery in June, and he hasn’t been the same hitter since returning in late July.
Lately, however, we have seen some signs of him putting it all together at long last. The third baseman is hitting .237/.324/.376 with 12 home runs, 35 stolen bases, and a 95 wRC+ in 2026, well below his lofty standards, but he’s slashing a robust .471/.500/.824 with a 273 wRC+, three doubles, a home run, four runs, three RBIs, and two steals in his past four games.
It might be too early to tell, as it’s just four games, but Ramirez could very well be peaking at the right time, and that’s bad news for the American League. Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti praised the longtime superstar and suggested that even when he was struggling at the plate, he made the team better.
“There are no cons to having Jose in the lineup. He helps make us better every day he’s out there. He went through a significant surgery that has a lasting impact, but he has done everything possible to be out there and be the player that he’s capable of being. We’re just a better team when Jose is playing, even when he may not be at his best or 100 percent,” Antonetti said, per Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com.
The executive does have a point. Yes, playing Ramirez at one point was tough because he wasn’t really doing anything at the plate, but the fact that he’s willing to put his body on the line and play at significantly less than 100 percent inspires his teammates.
Even when he’s not producing at the plate, Ramirez contributes leadership, defense, and flawless baserunning, not to mention leading by example with his never-ending hustle and drive to win. With a late push in the final week, Ramirez could approach 15 homers, 40 thefts, and league-average offensive performance (100 wRC+) in a year when many things went south for him health-wise.
The AL Central-leading Guardians, with their excellent bullpen, quality rotation, excellent young core, and Ramirez playing like Ramirez, are certainly a scary proposition for AL foes.
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