Cleveland Guardians Third Baseman José Ramírez Joins 250-Home Run Club

José Ramírez went deep against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, joining Jim Thome as one of two players in Cleveland Guardians history to hit 250 career home runs.
Aug 1, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field.
Aug 1, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field. / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
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The Cleveland Guardians were already well on their way to victory when José Ramírez made history.

The 31-year-old third baseman crushed a solo home run to left with one out in the top of the seventh inning, giving the Guardians a 5-1 lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cleveland went on to win 6-1 on Sunday, bolstering their lead atop the AL Central to 3.0 games.

Ramírez's home run was his 34th of the season and the 250th of his career. He is now one of two players to hit 250 home runs in a Cleveland uniform, joining Jim Thome in the franchise history books.

There are now seven primary third baseman in American League history who have reached 250 career home runs.

Ramírez was named an All-Star for the sixth time in his career earlier this summer. He has one more month to fend off Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers and win a fifth Silver Slugger.

On the whole in his career, Ramírez is a .279 hitter with 1,472 hits, 250 home runs, 236 stolen bases, 851 RBI, an .855 OPS and a 50.8 WAR. Ramírez is one of five players to rack up at least 250 home runs and 230 stolen bases in the 2000s, and he is the only one ever to do so with the Guardians.

Ramírez has missed an average of just nine games a year since becoming an everyday player in 2016. Cleveland went to the World Series that year, and they own the fourth-best record in baseball over the last nine seasons with Ramírez anchoring the lineup.

He is batting .275 with 34 home runs, 105 RBI, 34 stolen bases, an .863 OPS and a 5.2 WAR this season.

Now that they claimed their series with the Pirates, Ramírez and the Guardians are set to open a road series against the Kansas City Royals on Monday.

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Sam Connon

SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a Staff Writer for Fastball on the Sports Illustrated/FanNation networks. He previously covered UCLA Athletics for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's All Bruins, 247Sports' Bruin Report Online, Rivals' Bruin Blitz, the Bleav Podcast Network and the Daily Bruin, with his work as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for Sports Illustrated/FanNation's New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk.