Key facts
- Cleveland Guardians All-Star third baseman José Ramírez fractured a bone in his left hand.
- The injury occurred during the fifth inning of Saturday's game against the Detroit Tigers.
- Ramírez will be sidelined indefinitely.
- He previously broke the hamate bone in his right hand in 2019, missing about a month.
- Outfielder Chase DeLauter suffered a bruised rib cage, and Angel Martinez sustained a bruised foot.
Cleveland Guardians All-Star third baseman José Ramírez was placed on the injured list Sunday for the second time in his career due to a broken bone in his left hand. The fracture to the hamate bone occurred in the fifth inning of Saturday's 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers when Ramírez fouled off a pitch. He described hearing a pop and feeling immediate pain, indicating something was wrong.
Ramírez, who also broke the hamate bone in his right hand in 2019 and missed about a month, is awaiting determination on a timeline for surgery and recovery. The typical recovery period post-surgery is five to seven weeks. Despite the setback, Ramírez expressed a philosophical outlook, stating it's just part of the game.
The injury comes at a critical juncture for both Ramírez and the Guardians, who are in a tight division race. While Ramírez's batting average is .239, he had been performing well in June. Manager Stephen Vogt acknowledged the impact of Ramírez's absence but expressed confidence in other players stepping up. Gabriel Arias was activated from the injured list to fill Ramírez's spot at third base, with Daniel Schneemann and David Fry also available to play the position.
In addition to Ramírez, the Guardians are dealing with other injuries. Outfielder Chase DeLauter suffered a bruised rib cage after colliding with the outfield wall, and Angel Martinez sustained a bruised foot. The team had its top three hitters in the lineup unavailable due to these injuries.