Ramírez relishing another chance to carry Guardians to World Series berth

ST. PETERSBURG -- José Ramírez is a seven-time All-Star, a six-time Silver Slugger, a former American League pennant winner, one of the best players in all of baseball and easily the face of the Cleveland Guardians' franchise. “J-Ram” is a bona fide superstar.

But Ramírez has never been a World Series champion. Perhaps that will change later this month -- the 34-year-old third baseman is certainly doing everything he can to try to lead Cleveland to ending its 78-year title drought.

On Saturday night, Ramírez’s two-run home run lifted the Guardians to a 2-0 victory in the winner-take-all AL Division Series Game 5 vs. the White Sox at Progressive Field. On Sunday, Ramírez and his teammates arrived at Tropicana Field, where they’ll open the AL Championship Series against the Rays on Monday night.

It’s a familiar spot for Ramírez, who has played in the ALCS twice among his eight career postseason appearances -- in 2016, when Cleveland defeated Toronto in five games to advance to the World Series, and in ‘24, when the Guards fell in five to the Yankees.

The big stage has been set for this star to again show his stuff.

“These games, you want to do your best, because it's do or die. You don't win, you go home,” Ramírez said via an interpreter. “These moments are really special. It's just from the grind of Spring Training, you know you have a clear goal to come to the playoffs. So once you're here, you realize, ‘OK, this is what we worked for, and now, it's time to enjoy it.'”

The Guardians need Ramírez at his best. As he goes, they often go.

In Games 1 and 2 of the ALDS, Ramírez went 0-for-6 and Cleveland took two losses. The Guardians came back to win Games 3, 4 and 5, with Ramírez going 5-for-12 (.417) with one double, one triple and two homers while driving in seven of the club’s 20 runs in that span.

“When he's like he's been right now, it's been special,” outfielder Jo Adell said. “Like I've said before, he's the heartbeat of this team.”

The most encouraging part has to be the return of Ramírez’s power, which had been largely absent upon his return from June 16 left hamate surgery. If that resurgence continues, it would be huge for Cleveland’s lineup in the ALCS.

Ramírez’s production after left hamate surgery

First 44 games from July 22-Sept. 15: .210 AVG, .263 SLG, 27.7% hard-hit rate in 188 PA
Past 13 games since Sept. 16: .304 AVG, .571 SLG, 52% hard-hit rate in 64 PA

“He's been through a lot this year. We've been through a lot this year,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “We cannot wait to play on Monday, and I can't wait to keep watching José Ramírez do what he does.”

Ramírez can also rise to the occasion in any key moment, which the Rays are well aware of.

“It's crazy that we can probably all acknowledge he's a top 10 player in the entire world, and yet, I think he's the most underrated player in all of baseball,” Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen said. “He is a one-of-a-kind talent that definitely alarms go off when you're going into starting your scouting.”

“He's on a Hall of Fame trajectory. He's an incredible player -- one of my favorites to watch, actually,” Rays righty Griffin Jax added. “I think he's just prepared. He knows what he's doing. He knows his approach. He's not going to try to do something different. If he needs to slap a single the other way, he's going to do it and then try to steal. Or if he gets a pitch to hit out of the park, he's going to do it.”

It wasn’t always that way. Though Ramírez first broke into the big leagues in 2013, it took a few years before he became anything close to the player he is today. The Bani, Dominican Republic native’s breakout season didn’t come until ‘16, the same year he helped power Cleveland to the AL pennant.

It’s a story of hard work and perseverance. Just ask anybody who has seen it up close.

Rays manager Kevin Cash was there early in Ramírez’s MLB career. He was Cleveland’s bullpen coach during the 2013 and ‘14 seasons. Having been in his current job since ‘15, Cash has had to game plan for a player who he once thought had potential, despite the early results.

“I know there were some early struggles, and there was a debate, ‘Is he going to be able to stick?’ this and that,” Cash said. “He's definitely stuck. And he's a guy that you're always watching certain teams with players, ‘Where is he lurking in the lineup?’”

Craig Albernaz didn’t arrive in Cleveland until Ramírez was already established, serving as the Guardians’ bench coach in 2024 and their associate manager in ‘25. But he heard tales from those in the organization -- then became impressed with what he saw up close.

Albernaz, who is now the Orioles’ manager, still often raves about Ramírez’s talent from afar.

“When Josey was coming up, it wasn't like he was this top-tier prospect. He's had to work for everything,” Albernaz said. “Everyone kind of forgets that, and rightfully so, because of what he's done. He's just worked his way to being José Ramírez. He works every single day like his job is going to be taken.”

Both Cash and Albernaz have commended Ramírez for signing two long-term extensions to stay with the Guardians, as he’s still under contract through the 2032 season. It shows how dedicated the slugger is to trying to bring a championship to Cleveland.

Maybe that will happen soon. Maybe Ramírez, the heart and soul of his ballclub, will finally get them to the top. But if he doesn’t, it won’t be due to a lack of effort.

“You have to always find a way to win, and that's what this group has done: find the ways to win,” Ramírez said. “For us, it's going to continue to be the same: Find ways to win and how we can go to the next round.”