It’s time to review the leaderboards following another impressive road trip at the plate for José RamÃrez. The Cleveland third baseman, a five-time All-Star, is steadily climbing up the ranks in several all-time franchise offensive categories.
During seven games against the Orioles and Royals, RamÃrez went 10-for-29 (.344), hitting three doubles, four home runs, and driving in nine runs. He hit home runs in consecutive games against both Baltimore and Kansas City, making him the only player in the majors with at least 100 home runs and 100 steals since 2020.
With 23 home runs, RamÃrez is just one shy of his most through Cleveland’s first 82 games since he hit 24 in 2018. His 76 RBIs during this period are his highest.
On Sunday, RamÃrez tied Jim Thome for third place on the franchise’s all-time extra-base hits list with an RBI double, reaching 620. He is also 28 RBIs away from tying Ken Keltner (850) for seventh place on the club’s all-time RBI list.
After hitting a home run against the Royals on Saturday, RamÃrez needs only three more to match Albert Belle for second on Cleveland’s all-time home run list.
Two-out magic
The Guardians have accumulated 156 RBIs with two outs this season, including seven in the last two games against the Royals. This total places them second in the American League, behind only Baltimore (164). Additionally, 43 of Cleveland’s 95 home runs have been hit with two outs.
José RamÃrez ranks fourth in the AL with a .973 OPS with two outs, while Josh Naylor is sixth with a .952 OPS. The team also leads MLB with 18 home runs and an .853 OPS with runners in scoring position and two outs.
Slick defense
José Tena’s throwing error in the sixth inning on Sunday was only the second error by Cleveland’s defense in the last 17 games. Before this error, the Guardians led the majors with a .998 fielding percentage since June 12. Cleveland was among the MLB leaders in team fielding percentage in June, entering Sunday’s game with a .994 mark for the month, ahead of Texas (.993). The Guardians’ defenders also rank second in the AL, behind Oakland (84), with 78 double plays turned.
Yuletide era
Jhonkensy Noel’s home run on Sunday, despite some controversy, had an exit velocity of 115.4 mph according to Statcast. This marks the hardest-hit home run by a Cleveland player since the Statcast era began in 2015, surpassing Franmil Reyes’ previous record of 114.1 mph set on August 16, 2020, in Detroit.
Noel’s homer ranks as the 11th-hardest hit in the majors this year. Only a few players, including 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 this season.
Additionally, Noel became the sixth Cleveland player to homer in each of his first two major league games, joining Chris Gimenez (2009), Kevin Kouzmanoff (2006), Josh Bard (2002), Manny Ramirez (1993), and Earl Averill (1929).
