The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ramirez blossoms into MVP candidate
Second baseman one of league’s most dangerous hitters.
CLEVELAND — Start with his stocky, stubby body that’s out of place among the chiseled physiques in a major league clubhouse. Jose Ramirez is built like someone on your softball team.
Take his personality: boisterous, sometimes abrasive, usually the life of the party. And finally there’s his distinctive strut, arms swinging high at his sides, head cocked slightly — the swagger of a man on a mission. Put it all together, and the Indians second baseman doesn’t look like a typical baseball star. He comes across as nobody special. Don’t be fooled. “He’s a force,” manager Terry Francona said.
Packed with surprising power, Ramirez has become one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters, a cult figure in Cleveland and a major reason
why the built-for-October, 102win Indians — who will host the New York Yankees this week in the division series — are favored to get back to the World Series.
Switch-hitting and seemingly fearless, Ramirez has wedged himself into the MVP conversation following a regular season in which he led the majors with 59 doubles, tied Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton for the lead in extra-base hits (91), and seemed to be
in the middle of every Cleveland rally. Ramirez has done anything and everything the Indians have asked. While AllStar shortstop Francisco Lindor may be the fresh face of Cleveland’s franchise, Ramirez is its heart and soul.
“He’s hit third. He’s hit fourth. He’s hit fifth, actually probably sixth, seventh and eighth,” Francona said. “He’s been a run producer. He’s played left field, third base and second base. He’s turned himself through hard work into one of the best players in the game, and we’re really proud of him.”
The 25-year-old’s journey from a tiny town in the Dominican Republic to the big leagues is right out of a Hollywood film script. Quitting school at 14 to chase his dream, Ramirez signed with the Indians at age 17 for $50,000. He rose through their minor-league system, breaking in with Cleveland in 2013. Two years later, he won the starting shortstop job in spring training, struggled and lost it to Lindor before he was demoted.
He was penciled in for a utility role in 2016, but when AllStar Michael Brantley wasn’t ready after shoulder surgery, the Indians sent Ramirez to left field, where he thrived before moving to third for the final two months after Juan Uribe was released.
Ramirez hit .312 in the regular season and .310 in the Series, and the Indians locked him up with a $26 million, five-year contract in March. There has been no stopping him this season.