Stature no issue for big hitter Ramirez

Indians All-Star third baseman Jose Ramirez — all 5-foot-9, 165 pounds of him — is crashing home-run party, and it’s awesome to watch, writes Mark Podolski.

“I was told I would never make it because I’m too short. Well, I’m still too short. It doesn’t matter what your height is, it’s what’s in your heart.”

— Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett

The late Puckett stood 5-foot-8 and weighed 178 pounds. The most home runs he ever hit in his 12year career was 31 in 1986. “Height doesn’t measure heart.”

— Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox

Pedroia’s career high in homers is 21 in 2001. He’s just 5-9, 175 pounds.

Puckett was a downand-dirty ball player. Pedroia, who’s been hurt most of 2018, still is. No one should dispute that about either.

Neither were known for their power. For the most part, that category in the American League has been dominated by big men — literally. Jose Ramirez is crashing the party, and it’s awesome to watch.

It’s not because he plays for the Indians. It’s because the third baseman is proof a baseball, a bat, and a ballpark’s dimensions don’t discriminate.

On appearance alone, a player who’s 5-9, 165 pounds should have no business being tied for the major-league lead in home runs at the All-Star Break.

But there Ramirez is with 29, a mark that’s tied with Boston’s J.D. Martinez, who, in case you were wondering, is 6-3, 220 pounds.

Ramirez’s power surge at such a small frame is rare in this era of swing hard, then swing harder, then swing even harder brand of baseball.

The big boys of baseball can hit it a country mile. But the inclusion of Ramirez, in one respect, seems so out of place, and in another, so refreshing.

Baseball players come in all shapes and sizes, but in the case of Ramirez it’s borderline ridiculous.

He’s itsy-bitsy compared to recent American League home run champs. The list since 2010 have dimensions that could double as NFL linebackers or defensive ends;

2017 » Aaron Judge, Yankees (6-7, 282)

2016 » Mark Trumbo, Orioles (6-4, 225)

2015, 2013 » Chris Davis, Orioles (6-3, 230)

2014 » Nelson Cruz, Orioles (6-2, 230)

2012 » Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (6-4, 249)

2011, 2010 » Jose Bautista, Blue Jays (6-0, 205)

The closest Ramirez is to on that list is Bautista, who still has an advantage of three inches and 40 pounds.

The Indians producing an AL home-run champ is pretty rare on its own, let alone a 5-9, 165-pound player doing it.

Albert Belle was the last Indians’ hitter to lead the league. He did it with 50 home runs in 1995. Belle was 6-1, 190 pounds during his Indians’ playing days, but looked much bigger than that at the plate.

Three other Cleveland hitters won AL home run crowns.

In 1959, 6-3, 190-pounder Rocky Colavito tied with Harmon Killebrew for the AL title with 42 long balls.

Then in 1952 and 1954, Larry Doby was the AL champ. He was 6-1, 180.

Perhaps Ramirez’s closest comparable — size-wise — in an Indians uniform was two-time AL home run champ Al Rosen, who was 5-9, 180 pounds.

Rosen led the AL with 43 dingers in 1953, then again in 1950 with 37.

Ramirez was first called up to the major-league level in 2013, but spent portions in the minors from 2011 to 2015. During those seasons, he hit 13 minor-league homers.

In 93 games this season, he has 29 home runs along with 70 RBI, a .302 batting average and 20 stolen bases. Ramirez’s projected 2018 totals are staggering: 49 homers, 119 RBI, 34 stolen bases, 44 doubles and 116 runs.

At 5-9, 165, this makes little to no sense — other than the 25-year-old is simply growing and maturing into a terrific player — so enjoy the Ramirez ride Indians fans.

This is like Mighty Mouse being reincarnated — only this time he’s wearing a baseball uniform.