José RamÃrez’s recent road trip has resulted in a significant increase in his leaderboard position. Cleveland’s five-time All-Star third baseman moves closer to the top of a number of franchise offensive statistics.
RamÃrez hit 10-for-29 (.344) with three doubles, four home runs, and nine RBIs in seven games versus the Orioles and Royals. He homered in back-to-back games against Baltimore and Kansas City on the trip, becoming the only big leaguer with at least 100 home runs and 100 steals since 2020.
RamÃrez has hit 23 home runs in Cleveland’s first 82 games, his second-highest total since 2018, and has 76 RBI.
With an RBI double in the eighth inning Sunday, Ramirez equaled Jim Thome for third on the franchise’s all-time extra-base hits list with 620. He is 28 RBI away from tying Ken Keltner (850) for sixth on the club’s all-time leaderboard.
With his home run against the Royals on Saturday, RamÃrez is now only three home runs away from tying Albert Belle for second place on Cleveland’s all-time leaderboard.
Two-out magic
The Guardians have 156 RBI with two outs all season, including seven in the last two games of their series with the Royals. That total ranks second in the American League, trailing only Baltimore (164). Additionally, 43 of Cleveland’s 95 home runs have occurred with two outs.
RamÃrez is fourth in the AL with a.973 OPS with two outs, while Josh Naylor is sixth (.952). The club also leads the MLB with 18 home runs and a.853 OPS with runners in scoring position with two outs.
Slick defense
José Tena’s throwing error in the sixth inning on Sunday was the Cleveland defense’s second in the last 17 games. Prior to that error, the Guardians had led the majors with a.998 fielding percentage since June 12. Cleveland was one of the MLB leaders in team fielding percentage in June, entering Sunday’s game with a.994 mark, ahead of Texas (.993). With 78 double plays turned, the Guardians’ defenders are second in the AL only to Oakland’s (84).
Yuletide era
Jhonkensy Noel’s somewhat contested home run on Sunday had an exit velocity of 115.4 mph, according to Statcast. This is Cleveland’s hardest-hit home run since 2015, according to Statcast. Franmil Reyes set the previous record with a 114.1 mph rocket on August 16, 2020, in Detroit.
Noel’s home run was the 11th hardest hit in the majors this season. This year, only Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge of the Yankees, Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani, Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, and Pittsburgh’s O’Neil Cruz have hit balls harder.
Noel also became the sixth Cleveland player to homer in his first two major league games, behind Chris Gimenez (2009), Kevin Kouzmanoff (2006), Josh Bard (2002), Manny Ramirez (1993), and Earl Averill (1929).
