CLEVELAND -- Progressive Field should have a lively atmosphere on Wednesday evening. No. 11 is back.
The Guardians activated third baseman José Ramírez off the 10-day injured list prior to Wednesday’s game against the Twins at Progressive Field. Outfielder Kahlil Watson was optioned to Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move.
Ramírez is in Wednesday’s starting lineup, hitting second and playing third base.
Ramírez has been sidelined since he suffered a left hamate fracture on June 13 against the Tigers. Wednesday marks five weeks and one day since he underwent surgery on June 16. Put another way, he’s back almost exactly at the beginning of the window the Guardians outlined after his procedure.
Ramírez was given a return timetable of five to seven weeks. He ultimately bypassed a rehab assignment en route to his activation.
The Guardians went 15-15 without Ramírez. They entered Wednesday at 54-48, percentage points behind the White Sox (53-47) for first place in the AL Central standings. They did well to tread water in his absence. But Cleveland also ranked 28th in the Majors in runs scored (121) and 26th in OPS (.690) in 30 games without its superstar.
Manager Stephen Vogt will now again be able to plug the Guardians’ engine into the heart of the lineup.
Ramírez’s numbers this season are down from his typical elite standard, but he has been productive and a driving force for Cleveland offensively. The 33-year-old has a .757 OPS, hit 18 doubles and 10 home runs, drawn 41 walks with just 44 strikeouts and 24 stolen bases.
The Guardians took things one day at a time in this process, keeping the big picture in mind with much left to play for this season. But they also leaned upon Ramírez, a 14-year veteran who knows his body best and what he needs to be ready to play.
Ramírez remained physically active after surgery. He got the stitches removed from his hand on June 30, and soon after advanced into a hitting progression. Even without a rehab assignment, he has continually been inching closer to being ready for game action.
Now, Ramírez will jump back into the Guardians’ lineup as an obvious boost to Cleveland’s second-half push. It’s the first of what could be two reinforcements this week.
Outfielder Angel Martínez (who suffered a non-displaced left foot fracture the same day Ramírez was injured) began a rehab assignment on Friday. He played seven innings on Tuesday with Double-A Akron, in his third rehab game, and perhaps could be ready to be activated this weekend.