MLB All-Star week missed Jose Ramirez’s presence and stature

It’s a shame Jose Ramirez bowed out of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game, depriving baseball fans who don’t often get a glimpse of the smallish-market Cleveland Guardians to witness one of baseball’s most consistent stars in the midst of another strong year.

A rare combination of switch-hitting power and speed, Ramirez decided to rest the aching right ankle he sprained in early May rather than participate in the midsummer break festivities.

“I want to go to the All-Star Game, especially with the support from the fans, but I feel the best thing for the team is to be able to be fresh and contribute to our team in the second half,” he told reporters.

Ramírez, who was named AL Player of the Week for the period ending July 14, was last week selected as the AL’s starting third baseman. It would have marked the seventh time he was selected to the All-Star Game and fourth time he was in the starting lineup. He started in 2017, 2018 and 2024.

Since becoming a full-time player in 2016, Ramírez has been a consistently dangerous force in the middle of the Guardians lineup. He’s posted seven seasons with at least 20 or home runs and seven seasons with at least 80 RBIs.

The Bani, Dominican Republic native, 32, had arguably hIs best season in 2024, when he hit 39 homers with 41 stolen bases — one homer shy of a 40-40 season — and knocked in 118 runs.

Though Ramirez was replaced on the All-Star roster by the Houston Astros’ Isaac Paredes, a solid third-sacker from Mexico, it’s a bit of a drop-off from Ramirez’s Hall of Fame-caliber presence on the field.