José Ramírez Is No Longer Baseball’s Best-Kept Secret - He’s the Top Third Baseman in the Game
For years, José Ramírez has quietly gone about his business in Cleveland, stacking up All-Star appearances and Silver Sluggers while flying just under the national radar. But those days are over. If you’re still calling Ramírez “underrated,” you haven’t been paying attention.
MLB Network made it official Wednesday night: Ramírez is the No. 1 third baseman in all of baseball, topping their annual “Top 10 Third Basemen Right Now” list. And honestly, it wasn’t even close.
Here’s the full top 10:
- José Ramírez, Guardians
- Max Muncy, Dodgers
- Alex Bregman, Cubs
- Matt Chapman, Giants
- Manny Machado, Padres
- Junior Caminero, Rays
- Bo Bichette, Mets
- Isaac Paredes, Astros
- Eugenio Suárez, Reds
- Austin Riley, Braves
That’s a stacked group of talent, but Ramírez stands alone at the top - and not just because of his bat.
“He has no weaknesses at the third base position,” said former big leaguer and MLB Network analyst Mike Lowell. “He’s one of the best base runners in the game, plays great defense.
He obliterates left-handed pitching, but he still hits well off right-handed pitching from the left side. There’s nothing he doesn’t do great.”
Lowell didn’t stop there. “Just a Hall of Fame résumé he’s putting together,” he added.
“It’s really enjoyable to watch because physically, he doesn’t fit that prototype third baseman mold - not as tall, not as built as maybe some of the other guys. But the numbers come to play.”
And the numbers don’t lie.
In 2025, Ramírez helped lead the Guardians to their third AL Central title in four seasons, putting up another elite stat line: a .283 average, 34 doubles, 30 homers, and 85 RBIs. He also went 30-30 for the second straight season, swiping 44 bags in just 51 attempts. That kind of power-speed combo is rare - especially from a switch-hitting third baseman in his 30s.
At 33, Ramírez continues to age like fine wine. He’s now a seven-time All-Star, a six-time Silver Slugger, and he’s finished in the top six of AL MVP voting seven times, including three third-place finishes and one runner-up nod. That’s sustained excellence over nearly a decade - and it’s no wonder MLB Network also ranked him fifth overall among the Top 100 players heading into the 2026 season, trailing only Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., and Cal Raleigh.
He’s also the highest-ranked player from Latin America on that list - a testament to his impact both on and off the field.
What’s made Ramírez’s rise even more impressive is how complete his game is. He’s not just an offensive force.
He’s a smart, instinctive base runner, a steady glove at the hot corner, and a clubhouse leader. He plays with a quiet fire - the kind that doesn’t always grab headlines but absolutely drives winning.
MLB Network’s rankings are built on a blend of traditional and advanced metrics, including Statcast data, and they look at performance over multiple seasons. That long-term consistency? Ramírez checks that box, too.
And let’s not forget - he’s doing all this in Cleveland, a mid-market team that doesn’t always get the national spotlight. But Ramírez has never needed the spotlight to shine. He just keeps showing up, producing, and winning.
With a seven-year, $175 million extension now in place, the Guardians have locked up their franchise cornerstone. And baseball, finally, is giving him his due.
José Ramírez isn’t underrated anymore. He’s just elite.