Guardians Superstar Is Back From The Injured List

The Cleveland Guardians had to play more than a month without their best player, third baseman Jose Ramirez. He went down on June 13 with a left hamate bone fracture and missed a little over five weeks with the injury.

This past week, reports about him being nearly ready to return flooded the web. The team even indicated that he might skip a rehab assignment.

On Wednesday, the organization finally announced the return of their living legend. Ramirez is back in time to help the Guardians overcome the pesky Chicago White Sox in Cleveland’s quest for its third straight division title.

A promising young player had to give up his roster spot to accommodate Ramirez, though.

“José Ramírez is back from the injured list. Kahlil Watson was optioned to AAA,” Guardians insider Zack Meisel said on Wednesday afternoon.

José Ramírez is back from the injured list.

Kahlil Watson optioned to AAA.

— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) July 22, 2026

Ramirez admitted this week that he is still feeling the injury a bit, but also said that his team needs him. Here he is, showing up just when the Guardians can use a difference-maker to fend off the White Sox and other threats.

The future Hall of Fame candidate is slashing a rather disappointing .239/.339/.418 with 10 long balls, 42 runs scored, 24 stolen bases, a 110 wRC+, and 2.3 fWAR in 72 games and 314 plate appearances in 2026. You know Ramirez has set some lofty standards for himself when such a solid stat line is considered slightly disappointing. The vast majority of the league would kill for that kind of output.

Ramirez being back in the lineup not only represents a boost for the Guardians on the field. The organization has gotten its engine, its heart, and its soul back, and that carries enormous weight in a divisional battle.

As for Watson, he had enjoyed a solid June and actually won the Guardians some games, but the last few weeks have seen him crash back down to earth, at least offensively. He is hitting .239/.264/.341 with a 67 wRC+, one homer, and nine stolen bases.

The former first-round pick is extremely talented, but struck out 35.2 percent of the time in his brief MLB stint. When you don’t hit for power and strike out over a third of the time in the majors, you probably have some development left to do in the minors.

He will be back eventually, and certainly left a good impression on fans.