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Cleveland Guardians’ Jos\u00e9 Ramirez walks back to the dugout after flying out against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning of an opening-day baseball game, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Seattle.<\/p>\n
Lindsey Wasson\/AP<\/p>\n
Cleveland Guardians’ Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00edrez, right, and Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly, left, watch Ramirez’s single in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Friday, April 3, 2026.<\/p>\n
Sue Ogrocki\/AP<\/p>\n
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jos\u00e9 Ramirez greets teammates during introductions before an opening-day baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Seattle.<\/p>\n
Lindsey Wasson\/AP<\/p>\n
Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jos\u00e9 Ramirez warms up before facing the Seattle Mariners during an opening-day baseball game, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Seattle.<\/p>\n
Lindsey Wasson\/AP<\/p>\n
Cleveland Guardians personnel pass out magnet schedules before an opening day baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Cleveland, Friday, April 3, 2026.<\/p>\n
Sue Ogrocki\/AP<\/p>\n
CLEVELAND (AP) \u2014 Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00edrez could own every important Cleveland franchise offensive record by the time his contract with the Guardians expires in 2032.<\/p>\n
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The mark that the seven-time AL all-star will set this week might be the most meaningful to him.<\/p>\n
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Ram\u00edrez is three games from breaking Terry Turner\u2019s record for franchise games played. He should tie Turner\u2019s 1,619 games during Sunday\u2019s doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs and surpass it Monday when the Guardians host Kansas City.<\/p>\n
Cleveland and Chicago will play a traditional doubleheader on Sunday after Saturday’s game was postponed.<\/p>\n
Turner\u2019s record has stood for nearly 108 years. He spent 15 of his 17 big-league seasons with Cleveland from 1904 through ’18.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think among all the records, I feel that\u2019s one of the most important because it kind of resembles what I wanted to do with this team,\u201d Ramirez said through interpreter Agustin Rivero. \u201cMy ultimate goal was to be able to play as long as I could here and be able to be part of those records that are happening now.\u201d<\/p>\n
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According to MLB, Ram\u00edrez will be the only active player to lead his franchise in games played.<\/p>\n
Ram\u00edrez made his major league debut on Sept. 1, 2013, as a pinch runner for Carlos Santana during the ninth inning of Cleveland\u2019s game at Detroit. His first start came in his seventh game, going 2 for 3 against Kansas City.<\/p>\n
His transition to the majors was not immediate. He didn\u2019t make the opening day roster until 2015. Ram\u00edrez hit just .180 in the first half and was sent to Triple-A Columbus, but returned on Aug. 3 and has been a fixture in Cleveland\u2019s lineup since.<\/p>\n
Despite becoming a regular, it took Ram\u00edrez a couple of years to feel he belonged in the majors.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI think around 2018, that\u2019s when I actually found my footing and I felt that this is what I can be and this is where I belong,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ram\u00edrez\u2019s contributions have been central to Cleveland\u2019s success. He has been part of six AL Central Division titles, including the 2016 World Series squad, which lost in seven games to the Chicago Cubs.<\/p>\n
He is the only player in Cleveland\u2019s 125-year franchise history to have at least 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases. He currently has 286 home runs and 289 stolen bases.<\/p>\n
Ram\u00edrez leads the franchise in extra-base hits (729) and has 27 multi-homer games. He ranks second in home runs, stolen bases, total bases (3,018), and RBIs (954), third in doubles (400), and seventh in hits (1,674).<\/p>\n
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\u201cI think in 2016 and \u201917, it was kind of like, \u2019How do you get this guy out?\u2032 There\u2019s just no good way,\u201d manager Stephen Vogt said. \u201cI didn\u2019t play against him for a few years there, just because I was in the National League and coming back and seeing him in 2022, it wasn\u2019t fair. There was nowhere to get him out.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo play for as long as Jos\u00e9 has, he\u2019s been able to make adjustments. He\u2019s been able to continue to get better. You can\u2019t just stay the same because the league gets better every year, and he\u2019s been able to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last season, Ram\u00edrez had a career-high 44 stolen bases and became the third player in MLB history with multiple seasons of at least 30 home runs, 30 doubles, and 30 steals.<\/p>\n
Ram\u00edrez achieved another milestone during the first series of the season at Seattle. His sixth-inning double on March 28 made him the eighth active player with 400 doubles.<\/p>\n
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The 33-year-old native of the Dominican Republic signed a $175 million, seven-year contract during the offseason, which is the largest in franchise history.<\/p>\n
By 2032, his 20 seasons would match Mel Harder\u2019s franchise record (1928-47) and be the most by a Cleveland position player.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the organization that gave me the chance to become a professional,\u201d Ram\u00edrez said. \u201cJust to stay my whole career here and be able to break not only those records, but anything that becomes something meaningful for this organization feels really good.\u201d<\/p>\n
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