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One game stood between Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez and history last September, when the Guardians third baseman was on the precipice of achieving a rare 40-homer, 40-double and 40-stolen base season. As it later turned out, Mother Nature also stood in the way.
The Guardians¡¯ final regular-season game last year was rained out, leaving Ram¨ªrez just shy of joining the exclusive 40-40-40 club. He finished with 39 homers, 39 doubles and 41 stolen bases in 158 games. Alfonso Soriano (2006) remains the only player to pull off the 40-40-40 feat.
It could be easy to look back at the past and wonder what could have been, but Ram¨ªrez has kept his focus on the present and beyond. If anything, coming close to history is motivating.
¡°I¡¯m a little weird in that aspect. I don¡¯t think of things [like] that,¡± Ram¨ªrez said recently through team interpreter Agustin Rivero. ¡°I think everything happens for a reason. And the reason that happened is to get an extra tool to work hard this offseason. One of the reasons I worked harder this year is to try to get that goal.¡±
Ram¨ªrez (who returned to the Guardians¡¯ lineup on Monday after missing one game with a right wrist sprain) is already a six-time All-Star and a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He earned both honors last season while also finishing fifth in AL MVP Award voting. Any added motivation he has figures to be a scary proposition for opponents.
With 2024 as a backdrop, Ram¨ªrez¡¯s offseason work included a focus on readying himself physically for his 13th big league season. At 32 years old, he recognizes the necessary preparation to be ready for a 162-game season is different compared to earlier in his career. He broke into the Majors in 2013 at age 20.
Ram¨ªrez said he¡¯s the same weight now as he was at the end of last season (he¡¯s listed at 5-foot-9, 200 pounds), but he was strict with his intake and increased his muscle mass while trimming body fat over the winter.
¡°It's nothing radical,¡± Ram¨ªrez said. ¡°It's just something that allows me to be the best version of myself.¡±
The best version of Ram¨ªrez has proven to be one of the top hitters in the Majors and someone the Guardians count on day in and day out. He¡¯s played in 681 of a possible 708 games from 2020-24. Even after suffering a right wrist sprain on Saturday against the Royals, he was only out of the starting lineup for one game, on Sunday.
In his return on Monday against the Padres, Ram¨ªrez went 3-for-4 while hitting his first double and first homer of the season.
Considering his offseason work, Ram¨ªrez was asked -- in good fun -- about a possible 50-50 season, after his near 40-40-40 campaign.
¡°I would love to do 100-100, but the game is not easy,¡± he said. ¡°So I¡¯ll do my best and try to do as much as I can.¡±