Last 5 Cleveland hitters to record 100+ RBI in a season

4 of 5

The Cleveland Guardians' offense has been fairly lean the past couple of seasons, with production being more of a collective effort rather than multiple players in the same lineup driving in 100 or more runs.

occurringWhile there was the possibility Josh Naylor could have joined this list if he stayed healthy, considering he landed on the injured list with 79 runs batted in. Jose Ramirez (66) could have also found himself accomplishing this feat if a few more bats in the lineup could pull their weight. With the chances for either occuring this year on life support, let's look back at the last five Cleveland baseball players to drive in 100 or more runs in a season.

(Note: This is individual players to drive in 100 or more runs and not multiple seasons by the same player).

Jose Ramirez (2022)

finishedYou do not have to go far back to find the most recent Cleveland baseball player to do it, as Jose Ramirez drove in 126 in 2022. This was a career-high for Ramirez and the second straight year that Ramirez broke the 100 RBI barrier. Ramirez recorded 103 in 152 games in 2021, and his previous career-high came back in 2018 with 105 driven in. An injury shortened 2019 derailed another possible 100 RBI campaign as he finihsed with 83 RBIs in 129 games.

Edwin Encarnacion (2018)

Before Jose Ramirez's 2021 and 2022 campaigns, it takes a few years of going back to find the next Cleveland baseball player to drive in 100+ runs. Edwin Encarnacion drove in 107 runs in 137 games during the 2018 season. Interestingly enough, Encarnacion recorded that number in back-to-back seasons while in Cleveland, also driving in 107 in 157 games during his first year in Cleveland (2017).

These two seasons in Cleveland were the final two of four straight and six of seven years of accomplishing this feat. Encarnacion just missed 100 in 2014 as he drove in 98 in 128 games. The former first baseman's short stint in Cleveland was really the beginning of the end of his consistently high offensive output. While Encarnacion hit 34 home runs, driving in 86 total with two ballclubs in 2019. His 2020 season was a complete disaster, and he has not played in the majors since.

The decision to sign Encarnacion was meant to be one of the final pieces to accomplish what they were unable to do the year before, win the World Series. Receiving the highest value contract in the history of the franchise up to this point, Encarnacion produced as expected, but it was clear after two seasons that it was time to move on.

Mike Napoli (2016)

2016 does not seem a long time ago at first, but in 2023 it's much closer to a decade than many may initially realize. It was a magical season for Cleveland as they marched their way to the World Series, ultimately falling short to the Chicago Cubs in Game 7. A key part of that run to the Fall Classic? Mike Napoli.

In his one and only season in Cleveland, it was a Party at Napoli's all season long. Napoli was a force in the lineup, driving in 101 runs over 150 games. The veteran first baseman led the team in RBIs that year, with Carlos Santana being the next closest in terms of runs driven in (87). Napoli's performance at the plate in that postseason left a lot to be desired, and the less said about that, the better.

Interestingly enough, this was the only season in Napoli's career that saw him break the 100-RBI mark. He came close a few years prior while in Boston (92), but that was the only season that saw him within 24 RBI of 100 in his 12-year career. Most other seasons saw the former backstop finish inbetween 42 and 68 runs driven in, with the 75 in 2011 being his third-best finish to a season.

Victor Martinez (2007)

Going back nearly a decade and with a few close calls from Michael Brantley (97 in 2014), Asdrubal Cabrera (92 in 2011), and Shin-Soo Choo (90 in 2010), it is Victor Martinez's 114 runs batted in during the 2007 season as the next player who eclisped 100 when looking back on the history of the franchise. eclipsed

Martinez's 114 RBIs in 2007 set a new career high, the previous mark being 108 in 2004. Martinez would also register 108 between Cleveland and Boston in 2009, in addition to driving in 103 two times in Detroit (2011, 2014). Unlike the previous player on this list, Martinez's postseason performance was not a complete disappointment, driving in seven runs with two home runs and two doubles in 11 games against the Yankees and Red Sox. But like Napoli, Martinez's lone postseason with Cleveland did not end with a championship at year's end.

The .879 OPS from this season is his second-highest total when playing a full season with one team. Martinez led the American League in on-base percentage (career-high .409) and all of baseball in OPS (.974, also a career-high) during the 2014 season with the Tigers. Martinez registered a .912 OPS in 56 games during the 2009 season following his trade to Boston.

Travis Hafner (2007)

Also coming from the near-miss and almost certain World Series-winning team if they did not falter in the 2007 American League Championship Series is Travis Hafner.

Unlike a few names on this list, Hafner's 100 RBI total in 2007 is not his career high. This was Hafner's fourth and final season reaching triple digits in this department as injuries took their toll. Hafner appeared in 558 games while driving in over 100 runs in four straight seasons while appearing in just 511 in the following six years.

In a way, Hafner's final year of 100 RBIs marks the end of that competitive cycle for the Cleveland baseball franchise. There were clearly other factors at play, but Hafner missing time and seeing his power drop did not help matters.

2007 was also the last season in which Hafner hit more than 16 home runs in a season (24). During the four years that Hafner was a regular part of their lineup, he hit 127 home runs, and that number drops to 71 for the rest of his career.

Travis Hafner was an absolute force in this lineup when he was at his peak, keeping opposing pitchers up at night before facing Cleveland, with the man known as Pronk awaiting his turn to do damage.