Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez is definitely not your typical superstar. He is not outspoken, he is not looking for fame, and he definitely prioritizes many different things over money. He is, on top of all that, as loyal as you can ever find.
Since making his MLB debut in 2013 and finally establishing himself as a reliable major league contributor three years later, Ramirez has been a franchise cornerstone and has developed into one of the best players in the league.
His talent, work ethic, and love for the Guardians have taken him to legendary status within the organization. He already owns multiple records and, according to team insider Mason Horodyski, is closing in on others, such as one of the most meaningful of all: games played.
“José Ramírez ties Nap Lajoie for the 2nd most games played in Guardians history. He is 6 games away from becoming Cleveland’s all-time leader, which could happen as soon as Monday, April 6th, vs. the Royals,” Horodyski posted on X.
José Ramírez ties Nap Lajoie for the 2nd most games played in #Guardians history.
He is 6 games away from becoming Cleveland’s all time leader, which could happen as soon as Monday April 6th vs the Royals #GuardsBall x @WEWS
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) March 31, 2026
Monday’s game vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers helped him tie Lajoie, another franchise legend, for second place in the games played leaderboard. If he continues to play every game, which should be the case as long as he is healthy, he will take possession of first place next week against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
To play as many games as he has, one has to be extremely good for a long period. It’s fair to say Ramirez has been one of the very best in franchise history.
As a result, he is just five games away from tying Terry Turner’s 1,619 and six away from becoming the Guardians’ all-time leader. He is also in the franchise’s top five in home runs, stolen bases, total bases, fWAR, and RBI. Ramirez also became Cleveland’s all-time leader in multi-homer games last year, with 27, and is aiming to become the first Guardian to reach 500 doubles.
Ramirez hasn’t been off to the greatest of starts this year, hitting .143 with a 19 wRC+ through five games, but should be able to hit his stride in no time. Despite his long career, he remains relatively young and highly productive as his 6.3-fWAR season in 2025 indicates.
NEXT: Guardians Make Notable Move In Latest Power Rankings
