Jose Ramirez hasn't looked the same for the Cleveland Guardians since coming back from injury, but that doesn't mean it's time to panic.
In past years, even when the Cleveland Guardians' lineup hasn't been up to par, the team could always count on Jose Ramirez to raise the ceiling of the team as a whole.
The mindset after Ramirez landed on the injured list in the middle of June was to tread water and wait for Cleveland to get their star back in the lineup.
The Guardians did just that, but post-injury Ramirez simply hasn't looked the same at the plate.
Cleveland activated Ramirez off the injured list on July 22. Since then, he has a .197/.333/.197 slash line with a 58 wRC+.
Needless to say, it's been a struggle for Ramirez over the last few weeks, which raises a larger question Cleveland might have to answer: Should the Guardians be getting worried about Ramirez's production?
Even though the numbers may look concerning, that answer this question, it's a, no.
Aug 1, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramírez (11) walks to the dugout during the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn ImagesCleveland's superstar clearly doesn't look like his typical MVP-caliber self right now, and there's no denying that.
However, expectations are also important to consider.
Manager Stephen Vogt said that the day Ramirez came back, there would be some limitations at first, and the team likely knew that Ramirez would not immediately return to his All-Star form.
The Guardians have these expectations because of the specific injury Ramirez is returning from. It's not uncommon whatsoever for players returning from a hamate fracture to take some time to get back to 100 percent.
Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com did a story on hamate bone fractures earlier in the season after Corbin Carroll, Francisco Lindor, and Jackson Holliday all sustained the injury before Opening Day.
In it, he noted how, yes, players typically do make a full recovery, but not right away. Players re-gaining their strength and poewr with their swing is something that can take the most time, which is what the Guardians are seeing with Ramirez right now.
Ramirez has an average exit velocity of 89.2 mph in the 2026 season, but since returning from injury, it has dropped to 85.0 mph.
It hasn't been doom and gloom though. Ramirez hit multiple balls over 100 mph in Cleveland's recent series loss to the Detroit Tigers, but they ended up being outs.
Despite all of this, Vogt has been encouraged about Ramirez's recent at-bats and believes his star player is headed in the right direction.
"Hosey's giving us everything he has every day, and we just appreciate him going for it," Cleveland's skipper said on Thursday. "I feel like his at bats have been good. He's just missing some balls, but that happens to any hitter."
Given that Ramirez has fully recovered from this injury in his right hand earlier in his career, there's no reason to think he can't do it again.
The reality is that it will just take time. Unfortunately, the clock isn't on Cleveland's side as it pertains to the 2026 season.
