Cleveland Indians managed to get back into playoff contention in recent weeks, but the task of staying there just became much harder. Indians will have to play out the rest of the regular season without their third baseman Jose Ramirez.
Indians confirmed on Tuesday that Ramirez underwent hand surgery to repair the injury he sustained during Saturday’s game against Kansas City Royals. According to the first estimations, the 26-year-old All-Star will miss five to seven weeks.
“The best way to handle it is to do the same thing we try to do every day — go out and win a game,” said manager Terry Francona of Ramirez’s injury. “Obviously, Jose is a great player, so this isn’t going to be something that helps us, but now we know the situation, but we have to keep doing what we need to do.”
If the estimations about Ramirez’s recovery turn out to be true, he could return in early October, just in time for American League playoffs. It remains to be seen, however, whether Indians will even make it there without him. Cleveland is currently holding the wild-card spot with one-half game lead.
Although he struggled early in the season, Jose Ramirez became one of Cleveland Indians’ most important players in recent months. He has been batting .254 in 2019, having 20 home runs and 75 RBIs. Ramirez is also one of the MLB’s leaders in extra-base hits during the second part of the season.
