The Cleveland Guardians found out this past weekend that they will play the next 4-6 weeks without their superhero. Third baseman Jose Ramirez, the face of the franchise, will be on the shelf for a while while he recovers from left hamate bone surgery.
He sustained the injury on Saturday, and just like that, he leaves Cleveland without the heart and soul of their offense. His season takes a pause when he has 10 home runs, 24 stolen bases, and a 109 wRC+.
Former player and current analyst Harold Reynolds was asked if he thought the Guardians could hang around and keep competing while Ramirez recovers from his injury. His answer won’t give fans much peace of mind, though.
“I don’t see it happening. They’re going to hang around, but they’re going to have to do it for four to six weeks. We’ve watched a number of guys, even this season, come back, but he’s just too much. It’s not just the production on the field, it’s the leadership. This guy brings a moxy of character and everything. It’s going to be hard to do. I love what the young guys are doing, and maybe these guys are stepping their games a little higher, but that’s a tough one,” Harold Reynolds said.
Can the Guardians stay afloat without José Ramírez?
Harold: "I don't see it happening. They're going to hang around, but they're going to have to do it for 4 to 6 weeks…" pic.twitter.com/MWmShmTJin
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 16, 2026
Ramirez is much more than a star on the field. He is, quite literally, the heart and soul of the team, the one that fans go to the stadium to watch play.
Ramirez does much more than just hit: he is an elite defender, a savvy baserunner, and a beloved clubhouse leader. He also shows the hustle that managers love to see from their star players.
In other words, he sets the bar high for himself and his teammates. That’s the kind of presence the Guardians will be losing, possibly for longer than a month.
Reynolds’ remarks might not have sat well among Guardians fans, but he has a point. What he’s saying is not so much a jab at the team, but a monologue about how big Ramirez’s figure is to the organization.
J-Ram suffered a similar injury to his other wrist in 2019 and managed to come back to action in a month. Hopefully, he can replicate that timeline this time around.
NEXT: Uncomfortable Question Is Being Asked About Guardians Quiet Offseason
