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Jose Ramirez tracking down Cleveland Guardians all-time franchise records
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- Jose Ramirez tracking down Cleveland Guardians all-time franchise records
CLEVELAND — It certainly feels as though, with nearly every passing game, Jose Ramirez is moving past yet another Cleveland baseball great in the record books. He might eventually own most of those categories.
Considering the Hall-of-Fame-level talent and the long-term deal he signed to remain in Cleveland through 2028 — giving him at least another 3.5 years in a Guardians uniform barring a franchise-altering trade — Ramirez is within range of supplanting some of the biggest names in franchise history.
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Terry Francona , also a future Hall of Famer in his own right, returned to Cleveland June 9 for the first time since momentarily retiring from managing. He delivered a message to Cleveland fans . He also spoke about what it was like watching Ramirez during his year away from baseball.
"I mean, this kid made himself into one of the best players in the game," Francona said while sitting in the same building but now in an opposing uniform. "Sometimes you'll see guys as they accrue veteranship, maybe they slow down a little bit. Josey I think understands as the game slows down for you, you don't have to slow down."
June 9 was Francona's first game managing against Ramirez, knowing the All-Star third baseman is in the other dugout. The Reds won the game 7-4, but Francona kept thinking they needed some insurance runs for one reason.
"Kept looking at my card and I'm thinking, 'God, Josey, he's going to come up,'" Francona said. "And I kept thinking, just get one more. Kept saying that because he's that good where you always know where he is on your lineup card. I remember feeling like that with Miggy [ Miguel Cabrera ] in Detroit , and this guy's kind of the same. You don't ever lose track of where he is."
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Jose Ramirez stats, Hall of Fame case, Guardians records he's chasing
Ramirez recently became one of only seven players in baseball history with at least 1,500 hits, 250 home runs, 250 stolen bases and six defensive Wins Above Replacement , joining Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez , Willie Mays, Ryne Sandberg, Mike Cameron and Robin Yount. And he's the only third baseman on that list (unless you count A-Rod's pivot to the hot corner at the tail end of his career).
"Besides the fact that he's unbelievably talented, just the IQ, he's making the play before it happens and that's what the best defenders do," manager Stephen Vogt said, discussing Ramirez's defensive play at third base. "I don't know if there's a better third baseman defensively in baseball right now."
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Ramirez was ranked as one of the 14 active players most likely headed toward the Baseball Hall of Fame . He'll without question one day be in the Guardians Ring of Honor. There's a chance a statue outside Progressive Field comes with it.
Jose Ramirez chasing Guardians franchise records: plate appearances
Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez (11) steals third base against the Cincinnati Reds on June 9, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Earl Averill leads the way (which will become a common theme here) with 6,712 plate appearances. Entering June 9, Ramirez is ninth with 6,349. Assuming he can remain healthy, he should take over the franchise lead as the player who has stepped to the plate the most in a Cleveland uniform next year.
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Runs scored
Ramirez is fifth with 938 runs scored, trailing Averill's 1,154. He'll also have a chance to take over first by the end of 2026. And Ramirez should pass Kenny Lofton (975 runs) soon.
Hits
Nap Lajoie holds a Cleveland-record with 2,047 hits. Ramirez sits at 1,578, meaning he still has a few years before he can threaten this one. He's about to pass Omar Vizquel (1,616 hits) for seventh on the franchise all-time list.
Total bases
Ramirez, with 2,839 total bases entering June 9, is quickly approaching Averill's team record of 3,200 total bases. He'll easily secure this one in 2026.
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Doubles
Tris Speaker holds the Cleveland baseball record with 486 doubles, still a ways in front of Ramirez's 378. Along with a few others, this is one record Ramirez might need to wait until 2028 to claim.
Home runs
The all-time franchise record is also on that list. Jim Thome is the leader with 337. Ramirez is tracking him with 267. He's been on pace to pass Thome in 2028, his final year under his current contract. Ramirez has already passed players like Manny Ramirez and Albert Belle.
RBIs
Averill has driven in the most runs in franchise history with 1,084. Ramirez is fifth on that list with 895. He'll likely have a chance to take the top spot, if all goes well, in 2027.
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Stolen bases
This one might be the most difficult on the list for Ramirez to claim. Kenny Lofton is the franchise leader with 452 stolen bases. Ramirez is third, but he still has only 261. Ramirez turns 33 in September, so it'll come down to how often he runs as he enters his mid-30s.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jose Ramirez chasing Cleveland Guardians all-time franchise records
