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J-Ram says wrist pain is 'no excuse' as he seeks signature playoff moment

Cleveland Guardians slugger José Ramírez enters the ALDS against the Chicago White Sox facing intense pressure after a slow start to the postseason, going hitless in the first two games of the series. The 34-year-old third baseman, a potential future Hall of Famer, has struggled with wrist pain since fracturing his left hamate bone in June—a setback that sidelined him for five weeks and left him without his usual power.

Though he returned in early August, Ramírez managed just two home runs in his final 53 games, finishing the regular season with career-low offensive numbers, including a .688 OPS and only 12 homers. Despite the physical limitations, he has refused to use his injury as an excuse, vowing to compete at full effort even as he acknowledges his power may not fully return until next spring.

The Guardians, already down 0-2 in the series, will need Ramírez to flip his narrative and deliver a signature playoff performance to avoid elimination in Game 3 at Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday.

Ramírez’s postseason track record has been mixed, with a career .240 batting average and .692 OPS over 45 playoff games entering this year. His teammates have also faltered offensively, combining for a dismal .115 batting average in the series, including eight straight hitless at-bats with runners in scoring position.

Manager Stephen Vogt has praised Ramírez’s resilience, noting his determination to help the team win despite the wrist issue. With the Guardians’ backs against the wall, all eyes are on Ramírez to step up and silence doubts about his ability to perform in October.

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