Cleveland Guardians José Ramírez enters the postseason facing questions about his physical condition after enduring the worst offensive performance of his career since 2016, following a June hamate bone fracture that severely sapped his power and production.
The Cost of a Hamate Bone Fracture
Ramírez battled through a severe injury sustained in June, an ailment that forced him onto the injured list in the middle of that month and lingered long after his return in July. The 34-year-old finished the regular season with a .235 batting performance, a .688 OPS, and just 12 home runs across 125 games—his lowest home run total since 2016. He added 27 doubles, 53 runs batted in, 71 runs scored, and 37 stolen bases, alongside a well below-average wRC+ of 92.
Ramírez Offensive Metrics Drop During Second Half
The offensive downturn deepened significantly as the summer progressed. Ramírez recorded a dismal 39 wRC+ in the final month of the regular season and finished the second half with a 66 wRC+. Data shared by Just Baseball highlighted a stark drop-off during his first 44 games of the 2nd half, where he managed a .210 batting average, a .545 OPS, a 52 wRC+, a 27.7% hard-hit rate, zero barrels, and a 106.2 mph maximum exit velocity. A modest upswing arrived in his final nine games of the second half, during which he batted .316 with an .831 OPS, a 131 wRC+, a 50.0% hard-hit rate, two barrels, and a 110.6 mph maximum exit velocity.
Jose Ramirez’s first 44 games of the 2nd half: .210 AVG | .545 OPS | 52 wRC+ | 27.7% Hard-Hit Rate | 0 Barrels | 106.2 Max EV. Jose Ramirez’s final 9 games of the 2nd half: .316 AVG | .831 OPS | 131 wRC+ | 50.0% Hard-Hit Rate | 2 Barrels | 110.6 Max EV
Postseason Opportunity for Cleveland Guardians
Despite the superstar’s prolonged slump, Cleveland captured the American League Central division title with an 85-77 regular-season record, securing a direct bye into the ALDS. The Guardians open their postseason schedule today, giving Ramírez a clean slate to rewrite the narrative of his 2026 campaign. Over 45 career playoff games, Ramírez carries a .240/.321/.371 batting line with four home runs, 10 doubles, 19 RBIs, 17 runs scored, and a .692 OPS.
Rest and Recovery Ahead of the ALDS
Cleveland enters the American League Division Series relying on an extended layoff—lasting from the conclusion of the regular season last Sunday through Saturday—to help restore Ramírez to full health. As the Guardians prepare for opening day of the ALDS, the organization requires its superstar to rediscover his elite form if the club intends to make a deep championship run while he remains in his athletic prime.
