Jose Ramirez just entered some seriously exclusive territory. The Cleveland Guardians superstar homered in his first at-bat Saturday in Minnesota, reaching 30 home runs for the season and joining one of baseball’s most elite clubs.
It’s back-to-back seasons now for Ramirez with 30-plus homers, 30-plus doubles and 40-plus steals.
He’s only the second player in MLB history to pull off two of those seasons in his career, according to The Athletic’s Zack Meisel.
The first? Alfonso Soriano, who did it in 2002 and 2006.
When Ramirez went deep Saturday, he was sitting at 31 doubles and 40 steals to go with those 30 bombs. Last season, he finished with 39 doubles, 39 homers and 41 steals.
What makes this even more impressive is the timing. The Guardians are red hot heading into the final week of the regular season, and Ramirez’s continued excellence is a big reason they’re right back in the playoff race.
At this point, it’s almost routine for Ramirez. He ropes doubles, launches homers, and when he reaches first base, he’s probably going to swipe second.
The consistency is what sets him apart. Most players might have one season where everything clicks – the power, the doubles, the speed all coming together. Having two of those seasons? That’s rarified air.
Soriano’s two seasons came four years apart, during his peak with the Yankees and Nationals. Now Ramirez has matched that feat with consecutive campaigns, which might actually be more impressive given how hard it is to maintain that level across multiple skills.
The Guardians need every bit of Ramirez’s production as they make their playoff push. His ability to impact games in so many ways – extra-base power, getting into scoring position, creating havoc on the basepaths – makes him one of the most complete players in the game.
No matter what happens in the postseason race, Ramirez has already cemented another exceptional year. The scary part for opposing teams? He shows no signs of slowing down.
