Jose Ramirez rewarded for outstanding season

There are many ways to describe the 2024 season of Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez. Amazing, fantastic, impressive, outstanding, and impressive all certainly apply, but sometimes words can only do so much. When that is the case, hardware in the form of an award can do the trick, and that is what applies here.

Ramirez was named the American League's Silver Slugger Award winner at third base, the fifth time in his career that he has won the award. With a .279/.335/.537 slash line to go with 39 doubles, 39 home runs, and OPS+ of 143 in 158 games, Ramirez was an easy choice for the honors. Ramirez has been named a Silver Slugger Award winner three times in the past five seasons, with all five of his award-winning seasons coming over the last eight years.

As noted above, Ramirez was one home run shy from having a 40-40 season, which would have been an incredible accomplishment for the slugging third baseman. Add in his 39 doubles, and he nearly racked up a 40-40-40 season, but he will have to settle for 30-40 home runs and stolen bases and 30-30-40 with doubles accounted for.

Ramirez has been the key cog in Cleveland's lineup for quite some time, finishing in the top six vote recipients in MVP voting five times since 2017. Having the offensive output of last season was particularly helpful for the Guardians, as they were looking to rebound after a down 2023 and were navigating the waters of having a new manager for the first time in over a decade. Having a reliable bat like Ramirez's in the lineup every game made the job of Stephen Vogt that much easier, and it certainly was a huge factor in Cleveland's 92 wins, American League Central division title, and ALCS appearance. Following up this type of season will not be easy, but if anyone can do it, it is Ramirez.