TORONTO—José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians encountered a slight setback during Friday’s match against Toronto, as he experienced pain in his right ankle after tripping over first base. Despite the concerning incident, Guardians’ manager Stephen Vogt reassured fans that the six-time All-Star’s injury is not severe.
“The reports are positive,” stated Vogt in response to Ramírez suffering a mild ankle sprain amidst a 5-3 defeat. “It’s important to be cautious given the long season. José mentioned he could have continued playing, but we decided not to take any unnecessary risks.”
The incident occurred in the third inning when Ramírez was struck by a throw during an infield single and tumbled awkwardly. With Steven Kwan on first and two outs, Ramírez hit a slow grounder towards the pitcher. Toronto’s Chris Bassitt’s attempt to throw him out grazed Ramírez’s upper back, causing him to trip over the base and fall hard, impacting his left knee on the dirt.
Ramírez lay momentarily before athletic trainers assessed him. He eventually stood up and exited the field on his own, causing his team to make a quick substitution. “It’s never an easy choice to take someone out of the game, especially José, but it felt necessary,” Vogt explained, noting that Ramírez would undergo further evaluation on Saturday.
Despite the scare, Ramírez appeared to walk without significant discomfort when leaving the clubhouse. Vogt emphasized that Ramírez would dictate his return’s timing, cautiously noting Toronto’s artificial playing surface as a consideration.
“José is indispensable for us,” Vogt remarked. “He understands his physical limits and capabilities. Given the artificial turf here, we’re prudent about our decisions.”
After Ramírez’s premature departure, Daniel Schneeman was called upon to pinch-run and subsequently transitioned to second base while Gabriel Arias shifted from second to third.
Prior to leaving the game, Ramírez was on form, batting 2 for 2 and raising his average to .274. Over 31 games, he has accomplished five home runs and has driven in 15 runs. Notably, in Thursday’s 4-3 win against Minnesota, Ramírez made history by becoming the first primary third baseman to achieve 250 homers alongside 250 stolen bases.