Glasier boosts bid of Ramirez for All-Stars

David S. Glasier writes that the Indians’ Jose Ramirez has established himself as one of the best hitters in the game and he is deserving of selection for the All-Star Game.

Jose Ramirez had a seat on the bench June 23 when the Indians hosted Minnesota at Progressive Field.

He wasn’t out of the lineup because he was injured, scuffling at the plate or had done something to displease Indians manager Terry Francona.

To the contrary, the 24-year-old third baseman is healthy, wielding as hot a bat as you’ll currently find in the big leagues and is held in high esteem by his manager.

Instead, Ramirez watched the game from the dugout because Francona decided his most versatile player and best hitter needed the night off to catch his breath, figuratively speaking.

It was only the second time in 72 games this season Ramirez wasn’t in the lineup. If the recent past is prologue, there won’t be many more of the remaining 90 games when Ramirez isn’t doing his distinctive thing at the plate, on the basepaths and in the field.

Last season, when he shed the “utility player” label in his first full season with the Indians, Ramirez appeared in 152 of 162 regular-season games. He batted .312 with 11 home runs and 76 RBI. Then he played in all 15 postseason games, batting .268 with one home run and three RBI.

Ramirez came into the series opener against the Twins batting a team-high .321 with 11 home runs, 34 RBI and team-high totals of 86 hits, 23 doubles, four triples, 47 runs and 150 total bases.

In his last 10 games, Ramirez has been the hottest hitter in the game with a .522 average, 10game hitting streak and 24 hits, 15 for extra bases.

Not coincidentally, the Indians won eight of those games and vaulted past the surprising Twins into first place in the American League’s Central Division.

“He hit himself right out of the lineup,” Francona said jokingly before the game.

All kidding aside, Francona began hinting he would soon sit down his 5-foot-7 dynamo from the Dominican Republic earlier this week while the Indians ran roughshod over Baltimore in three of four games at Camden Yards.

“You could tell he was dragging,” Francona said. “The last couple days, I think he knew he probably needed a day off, but he was swinging the bat so well.”

The rest of the baseball world is beginning to recognize that Ramirez is emerging as one of the game’s most dynamic talents.

In fan balloting for the All-Star Game, Ramirez as of June 23 was second in the race to be the AL’s starter at third base with 891,731 votes. Minnesota’s Miguel Sano had the lead with 1,302,090 votes.

Sano, also 24 and from the Dominican Republic, has earned those votes in a breakthrough season. But while he carried impressive power numbers (18 home runs, 52 RBI) into the series opener at Progressive Field, Ramirez was superior in batting average (.321 to .286), doubles (23 to 10) and total bases (150 to 136) and onbase percentage (.376 to .277).

With fan voting set to end June 29, Ramirez will not overtake Sano. However, it seems inconceivable that Ramirez won’t be added to the AL squad as a reserve when the roster is filled out with input from fellow players and managers.

Francona will manage the AL squad in Miami on July 11 by virtue of the Indians being the defending American League champions. His voice will be heard in deliberations about which players will be added as reserves.

“In my opinion, he’s an All-Star. And if he’s not, I’m not sure who is,” Francona said. “Even when he’s not this scalding hot, he’s still a good hitter. He’s a .300 major-league hitter.”

Ramirez also is darned good with the glove at third base and even better at second base when he moves there in place of Jason Kipnis.

The guy who five years ago at this time had just been summoned to SingleA Lake County from extended spring training has proved to be a force of nature, especially with a bat in his hands.

Ramirez has earned a chance to play in baseball’s mid-summer classic.

If every six weeks or so Francona sees fit to shut him down for one game, so be it.

Contact Glasier at DGlasier@NewsHerald.com; On Twitter: @nhglasier.