As the Cleveland Guardians prep for the second half of the 2026 MLB season, the team is anxiously awaiting the return of two of its top offensive players during the first few months of the season: Angel Martinez and Jose Ramirez.

There's good news: each player is getting closer to a return, but it'll still be a little bit before they're activated. 

Angel Martinez is set to start a rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus on Friday evening. The plan is for him to play five innings in his first live-game action since the foot injury.

The good news is that Martinez is back, and there's a plan in place to get him ramped back up.

"It's really good to see that he's back out on the field," said manager Stephen Vogt on Friday.

Regarding when Martinez could be back with the big-league team, Cleveland's skipper noted that the rehab window for a position player is 20 days.

Looking ahead at the calendar, that could out the switch-hitter could be back during the first week of August at the latest. 

Vogt still pointed out that, "We have a progression for him to build up to a certain amount of games and innings, but at the same time, it's how's he feeling? How's he looking? How's the rhythm with the game?"

Jose Ramirez is also getting closer to being back on the field, too, but he's in a much different scenario than Martinez is in.

The Guardians still aren't sure whether or not the veteran will need a rehab assignment before being activated. Vogt said the team is relying on constant communication with Ramirez to determine the next steps. 

"With Josey, it's a little different. You got somebody who's older, who knows his body, who's been doing it for a long time. You kind of just lean on him," Vogt said.

"[We had a] great conversation with him yesterday about how he feels and where he's at. So, again, yeah, it's kind of day-to-day. 'How are you feeling? What's the next steps?'"

Ramirez is partaking in some baseball activities and was even taking ground balls with the rest of the team during Friday's warmups. 

With Martinez starting his rehab assignment and Cleveland taking it day by day with Ramirez, it doesn't seem like either player is on the precipice of a return. Still, they're inching closer and are in line to get back with the team before the final playoff push. 

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