The Cleveland Guardians pulled off something that most people assumed wasn’t possible.
They fought hard and ultimately won the AL Central.
Of course, it took a strong, collective effort to pull that off.
Nevertheless, Steven Kwan revealed that there was one player in particular who inspired the rest of them.
“It’s Jose Ramirez. If he kinda calls it quits, I’m pretty sure we all follow, but because he takes all of this seriously, because he’s our dog, we all gotta follow suit. If he doesn’t [quit], we don’t do that,” Kwan said.
"We all gotta follow suit, if he doesn't [quit], we don't do that"#Guardians Steven Kwan credits Cleveland's ability to never quit and make the largest divisional comeback in history to the guy that sets the tone in the clubhouse: José Ramírez.#GuardsBall @WEWS pic.twitter.com/Z3ZZwBjIWO
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) September 29, 2025
It’s quite refreshing to hear someone else give Ramirez the credit he’s earned.
He’s not the most outspoken player in the game, and, just like all great leaders, he’s never going to take the credit when his team is doing well.
Ramirez has emerged as arguably the best third baseman in the game, and more than that, he’s making a strong case for being the best player in franchise history.
He has been one of the most consistent hitters for the past decade, and the fact that he hasn’t gotten more MVP consideration may have to do with the fact that he plays for a small-market team.
Hopefully, he will keep his foot on the gas and continue to inspire everybody around him.
This team is special, and while it might not have as much talent as other clubs, it certainly believes it can hold its own against anybody.
NEXT: Stephen Vogt Sends Strong Message About Guardians After Division Title
