Cleveland Guardians star Jose Ramirez is having an outstanding 2022 season so far.
The veteran has had plenty of stellar years throughout his career, but with the way his current season is going, it could end up being his best statistically.
Now, it’s no secret that the baseball community pays less attention to some stats than it used to, with runs batted in being one of them.
However, the number of runs Ramirez has driven in this season is something that’s hard to overlook.
In fact, the 29-year-old could end up making Guardians history this year in that department.
On A Historic Pace
In 1999, Manny Ramirez made history for the Guardians by driving in a whopping 165 runs.
He obviously led the league that season in that category, but more notably, he broke Cleveland’s single-season franchise record for runs batted in.
That record still stands today within the organization, but with the way Jose Ramirez is playing right now, Manny Ramirez’s record might not last much longer.
So far this season, Jose Ramirez has driven in 53 runs.
His campaign is just 49 games young, which means he’s averaging more than one run batted in per contest.
Jose Ramirez – Cleveland Guardians (13) pic.twitter.com/LQ9eXCQNqp
— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) May 30, 2022
As things currently stand, the three-time All-Star is on pace for 175 runs driven in.
It’s worth noting that the single-season MLB record for runs batted in is 191, which was set by Hack Wilson in 1930.
Wilson’s record may never be broken, but a realistic target for Jose Ramirez is Manny Ramirez’s mark, and at the moment, it seems like it’s within reach.
Doing It All At The Plate
Unsurprisingly, Jose Ramirez is doing more than just driving in runs.
He’s having a fantastic all-around offensive season and is likely on his way to his fourth All-Star Game as a result.
So far this year, the slugger has a slash line of .291/.393/.632 to go along with 14 home runs, 12 doubles, and four triples.
He has struck out just 15 times in 214 plate appearances, meaning he averages about 14 plate appearances between strikeouts.
Jose Ramirez knows what it’s like to receive MVP consideration, as he has received votes for the award in five different seasons.
He’s even finished in the top three of the race on three separate occasions.
As long as he stays healthy this season, he’s likely well on his way to getting more MVP votes.
It's not a stretch to say José Ramírez is the best player in baseball.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/gFsFlZMdbE
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) June 4, 2022
The Guardians have a superstar on their hands, and that’s a pretty special thing.
A Bright Future For Jose Ramirez And Cleveland
The Guardians boast the youngest roster in baseball.
The weighted average age of Cleveland hitters is 26.2 years old (the youngest in baseball), and the weighted average age of Cleveland pitchers is 26.5 years old (also the youngest in baseball).
The organization might not crack the playoffs this season, but there’s no doubt that the future is bright.
That’s great news for Jose Ramirez, who will almost certainly spend the rest of his prime years with the Guardians.
Without a doubt, he’d love to capture a championship before walking away from the game he loves.
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