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CLEVELAND — Jose Ramirez's heroic three-game stretch in the American League Division Series propelled the Guardians to the ALCS, but with Cleveland's postseason run over, attention has shifted to the hamate bone injury that limited him for much of the second half.
Ramirez had hamate bone surgery in mid-June and returned to the lineup on July 22, yet he struggled to regain his typical production while dealing with the left wrist/hand issue. Hitters often find it difficult to fully recover their form following such a procedure.
His overall season numbers were already below his career norms, but after the surgery he batted just .229 with a .598 OPS over the final 53 games, hitting only two home runs as his power appeared sapped.
It was evident that Ramirez was playing hurt and that the procedure was affecting him negatively. However, there was little risk of further damage, and the Guardians valued any contribution their star third baseman could provide. A one-handed Ramirez in the lineup was still preferable to using a bench player, especially since he insisted on playing every day.
"Obviously, it took a toll on him," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said, also reaffirming his commitment to Cleveland amid rumors linking him to the Seattle Mariners. "He was out there giving us everything he had. He wasn't playing at 100 percent, but that never changed his demeanor or the way he went about his business. And I think that just speaks to who he is as a person and a baseball player. It was a super impressive performance by Josey this year."
Playoff Impact
In the ALDS, the Guardians fell behind 2-0 to the Chicago White Sox and faced three consecutive elimination games, largely because a lineup without a fully healthy Ramirez struggled to produce. Ramirez then almost single-handedly took over the series, giving the White Sox nightmares for the winter.
In Games 3, 4 and 5, he went 5-for-14 (.417) with two home runs, including a go-ahead, series-winning shot in Game 5 to eliminate Chicago. He drove in seven runs, scored five, drew two walks, and added a triple, a double and a stolen base over those three games. For that stretch, he was nearly unstoppable.
Ramirez remained productive in the ALCS, hitting .304 with a .385 on-base percentage, but he did not record an extra-base hit, and the Guardians' offense largely reverted to its struggles in a 4-2 series loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ramirez recently turned 34, and the Guardians hope he can maintain his elite level for as long as possible. They expect him to be fully healthy by the time training camp begins, though the timing is uncertain due to the anticipated MLB lockout starting Dec. 1.
Regardless of MLB's timeline, the Guardians want their best player to rest after grinding through the second half and playoffs with the hamate bone issue.
"That's our expectation based upon all the medical direction we've gotten, that he'll be 100 percent by next spring," president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said. "Obviously, it's been a really long season, and playing an additional three weeks adds more stress and toll to the body, especially the way Jose played over the last three weeks."
Originally reported by yahoo.