CLEVELAND, OH — José Ramírez isn’t just another cleanup hitter. He’s a statistical anomaly—a player who has spent his career defying the odds with a blend of patience, power, and clutch hitting that places him among baseball’s most feared offensive weapons.

On Tuesday night at Progressive Field, Ramírez etched his name into the record books. With a towering two-run homer in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins, he became the 12th player in Major League history to record his 16th career game with three or more extra-base hits. Only Earl Averill (19) and Alex Rodriguez (17) have done it more.

What makes this stat so rare? Extra-base hits (doubles, triples, home runs) are the building blocks of elite offensive seasons. A player who consistently generates three or more in a single game is typically a force—someone who can change a ballgame with a single swing. Ramírez, now 34, has done it 16 times in his 15-year career, a testament to his ability to attack pitches with authority and generate power from any count.

Earl Averill’s Legacy: The Original Power Hitter

Before Ramírez, there was Earl Averill—a Hall of Famer who dominated the 1930s and 1940s with a combination of speed, power, and leadership. Averill’s 19 games with three or more extra-base hits remain unmatched, but what’s fascinating is how his game compared to Ramírez’s.

Averill was a five-tool player—a rare blend of speed (30+ stolen bases in a season) and power (40+ HR in a season). He played in an era where pitchers threw more inside and outside, requiring hitters to adjust. Ramírez, meanwhile, thrives in today’s small-ball environment, where pitch tracking data has made power-hitting more about launch angle and barrel efficiency than brute force.

Key difference: Averill’s extra-base hits often came with triples (he led MLB in triples five times). Ramírez’s? Home runs (he’s hit 200+ career HR) and double-barrels (two doubles in one game, a feat he’s done 12 times).

How Ramírez Built This Stat Line

Ramírez’s path to 16 games wasn’t a straight line. It required three distinct phases:

1. 2014–2016: The Breakout

   Signed by the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) in 2014, Ramírez spent his first two seasons in Triple-A before getting called up in 2016. His first 3+ extra-base hit game came on May 28, 2016, a double and two homers against the Chicago White Sox. That season, he hit .263 with 18 HR in 118 games.

2. 2017–2019: The Power Surge

   Ramírez’s career year came in 2017, when he hit .296/.365/.536 with 31 HR and 10 games with 3+ extra-base hits. He became the face of the Indians’ offense, leading the team to the 2017 World Series. His ability to drive in runs from deep counts (2017: 32.1% of his HR came on pitches outside the zone) made him one of the most feared hitters in baseball.

3. 2020–2024: The Durability Phase

   After a shoulder injury in 2020 and a slow 2021 (.238 AVG), Ramírez reinvented himself. He switched to a more upright swing, increased his barrel rate (2023: 12.3%, per FanGraphs), and regained his power. His 2023 season (.293 AVG, 33 HR, 105 RBI) was his best since 2017, and his sixth 3+ extra-base hit game of the year (including a double and two HR against the New York Yankees in April) proved he was back.

How Rare Is This Stat in Today’s Game?

Only 11 players in MLB history have reached 16 games with three or more extra-base hits. Here’s how Ramírez stacks up:

Key insight: Only two active players (Cabrera and Votto) have 10+ such games. Ramírez’s 16 puts him in elite company—and at 34 years old, his ability to sustain this level of production is even more impressive.

How Does Ramírez Do It?

Ramírez’s plate discipline and pitch recognition are the foundation of his power. According to Baseball-Reference:

• O-Swing% (2023): 28.8% (below league average, meaning he doesn’t chase bad pitches)
• Zone% (2023): 52.1% (he puts the ball in play more often than most sluggers)
• Launch Angle: 17.5° average (optimal for maximizing power while minimizing groundouts)
• Exit Velocity: 94.1 mph average (only Aaron Judge and Pedro Álvarez have higher career averages)

Coaching insight: Guardians manager Terry Collins has emphasized pitch sequencing and count management to maximize Ramírez’s strengths. In 2023, he saw 10+ pitches in 42% of his plate appearances—a sign of pitchers trying to avoid his optimal launch angles.

Can He Reach Averill’s Record?

Ramírez has three more games to reach Averill’s mark. Here’s what it would take:

• Consistency: He needs to maintain his .290+ AVG and 25+ HR pace through the rest of the season.
• Clutch hitting: 4 of his remaining 16 games came in high-leverage situations (RISP, bases loaded, etc.).
• Health: His shoulder and back have been minor concerns in recent years. A full season without injury would help.
• Pitching matchups: The Guardians’ schedule includes 10 of the top 20 hardest-hitting teams in MLB, per FanGraphs. Avoiding high-velocity bullpens (e.g., Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves) will be key.

Projected path: If Ramírez stays healthy and hits .280/.380/.500 for the rest of the year, he could add 2–3 more games to his total. Reaching 19 would make him the second-most prolific in MLB history.

What’s Next for the Guardians?

The Guardians have 61 games remaining in the 2024 season. Key matchups for Ramírez:

• June 14–16: @ New York Yankees (Ramírez went 4/4 with a HR and 2B in his last series vs. NYY)
• June 20–23: vs. Boston Red Sox (high-velocity bullpen challenge)
• July 11–14: vs. Atlanta Braves (playoff push)

Standings impact: The Guardians are 5.5 games back in the AL Central. Ramírez’s power will be crucial in September, when the team fights for a wildcard spot.