With so much attention focused elsewhere during this spring training for the Cleveland Guardians, it’s easy to forget how great Jose Ramirez is. Though he provided a bit of a scare with a jammed shoulder, the All-Star third baseman has quietly gone about his business, as usual, and looks to be well-prepared for another outstanding season.
The 2026 campaign could be a notable one for Ramirez, who is about to reach some significant statistical levels for his career. In doing so, he will put his name alongside some of the game’s greats, likely sometime before the All-Star break.
Ramirez could join historic MLB company by reaching the elite career milestone of 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases, which has only been accomplished by eight other players, including Barry Bonds and Willie Mays.
“Ramirez enters the season with 285 career home runs and 287 stolen bases. There are only eight players in MLB history with at least 300 homers and 300 stolen bases: Carlos Beltran, Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Reggie Sanders, Steve Finley, Andre Dawson, Bobby Bonds, Willie Mays. He also has 3,007 career total bases, second to only Earl Averill’s 3,201 in Cleveland history, per Elias,” Sarah Langs wrote.
Needing just 15 home runs and 13 stolen bases to reach those iconic levels, Ramirez is likely to accomplish it in the first few months of the season. Last year, he had 13 home runs and 21 stolen bases by the end of June.
He is coming off back-to-back seasons of at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases, and if he were to get to 30-30 again, he would join Barry Bonds as the only players in history to do so three years in a row. He also would have four such seasons overall, which would be one short of the record shared by Barry Bonds and Bobby Bonds.
As for the Cleveland franchise record, the 195 total bases that Ramirez needs to break Averill’s mark should come later in the season. In 2025, Ramirez had 298 total bases, which was his fifth straight year with at least 290. Ramirez would set the mark in his 13th season for Cleveland, while it took Averill, a Hall of Fame center fielder, 11 years to establish it.
Likely to finish his career with Cleveland after signing a contract extension this offseason, Ramirez is well on his way to joining Averill in the Hall, but he will do so having played for just one franchise.
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