Jose Ramirez, Shortstop, Cleveland Indians, #11


Date of Birth: 9/17/1992
Birthplace: Bani, Dominican Republic

Jose Ramirez, shortstop for the Cleveland Indians, signed with the Indians in 2009. He played in the Indians' minor league system from 2011 through part of 2014. In 291 games, he had 370 hits, 114 RBIs, 86 stolen bases, 114 strikeouts to 96 walks, and a .306 batting average. As a second baseman, he made 563 assists, 117 double plays, 365 putouts, and 23 errors in 199 games.

Ramirez joined the Indians for 15 games in 2013. He played in 68 games in 2014 and he finished with 62 hits, 10 doubles, 10 stolen bases, and a .262 batting average. As a shortstop, he made 55 assists, 34 double plays, 76 putouts, and 4 errors in 56 games.

Ramirez played in 97 games with the Indians in 2015. He finished the season with 69 hits and a .219 batting average. Defensively, he played at second base (33 games), third base (13 games), and shortstop (46 games).

Ramirez had a strong first full season in the major leagues in 2016. He batted .312 in 152 games and he had 176 hits, 46 doubles, 22 stolen bases, and 76 RBIs. Defensively, as the Indians' third baseman in 117 games, he made 174 assists, 54 putouts, and 5 errors. In the postseason, he batted .268 with 15 hits, including 2 doubles and a home run, and 3 RBIs in 56 at-bats in 15 games.

Ramirez signed a five-year, $26 million contract extension with the Indians on March 24, 2017. The Indians got their money's worth in 2017, when Ramirez batted .318 with 186 hits, 56 doubles (led all of MLB), 29 home runs, 83 RBIs, and 69 strikeouts to 52 walks in 152 games. He won his first Silver Slugger award in 2017. Defensively, he played 71 games at second base and 88 games at third base. In the postseason, he had 2 hits in 20 at-bats in 5 games.

Ramirez had a strong 2018 season, finishing with 157 hits, 39 doubles, 39 home runs, 106 RBIs, and a .272 batting average in 157 games. He walked 106 times and struck out 80 times. Defensively, as the Indians' third baseman in 137 games, he made 205 assists, 94 putouts, and 11 errors. He didn't play well in the postseason. In 11 at-bats in 3 games, he had no hits.

Ramirez won his second Silver Slugger award in 2018.

Ramirez spent time on the DL in 2019. He finished the season with 123 hits, 33 doubles, 23 home runs, 24 stolen bases, 83 RBIs, 74 strikeouts to 52 walks, and a .255 batting average in 129 games. Defensively, as a third baseman in 126 games, he made 222 assists, 108 putouts, and 14 errors.

Ramirez won his third Silver Slugger award in 2020. He played in 58 games, and he had 64 hits, 16 doubles, 17 home runs, 46 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, 43 strikeouts to 31 walks, and a .292 batting average. Defensively, he played 57 games at third base. In the postseason, he batted .429 with 3 hits, all doubles, and 4 RBIs in 7 at-bats in 2 games.

Ramirez finished the 2021 season with 147 hits, 32 doubles, 36 home runs, 27 stolen bases, 103 RBIs, 87 strikeouts to 72 walks, and a .266 batting average in 152 games. Defensively, as a third baseman in 133 games, he made 213 assists, 34 double plays, 105 putouts, and 15 errors.

Career batting statistics for Ramirez through 2021 include:

  • 980 games played
  • 987 hits
  • 245 doubles
  • 163 home runs
  • 154 stolen bases
  • 540 RBIs
  • 491 strikeouts to 404 walks
  • .278 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Ramirez at third base through 2021 include:

  • 673 games played
  • 1,051 assists
  • 131 double plays
  • 469 putouts
  • 59 errors
  • .963 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Jose Ramirez
ESPN - Jose Ramirez
Baseball Reference - Jose Ramirez