José Ramírez turned one swing into one of the defining images of the 2026 postseason.
In a must-win Game 5 against the White Sox in the American League Division Series, with the Guardians staring at elimination and the pressure hanging over Progressive Field, Ramírez launched a home run off Sean Burke that was hit on a pitch 0.89 feet above the ground. It was the lowest pitch ever turned into a homer since pitch tracking began in 2008.
JOSÉ RAMÍREZ!
GUARDIANS TAKE THE FIRST LEAD OF GAME 5! pic.twitter.com/Z0zoqm513R
- MLB (@MLB) October 11, 2026
The blast sent Ramírez down the first base line hopping in celebration as a sold-out crowd erupted behind him. MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince later included the homer among the top moments of the 2026 postseason, and it’s easy to see why.
The swing came with a little history attached, too. As Castrovince noted, the Guardians had gone 2-5 in winner-take-all games at Jacobs/Progressive Field, a wrinkle that had lingered over the franchise despite plenty of success over the years. Ramírez didn’t just break through that baggage - he smashed it with one of the strangest, most jaw-dropping hacks of the year.
And it mattered. Cleveland rode that homer to a 2-0 win, with Gavin Williams delivering a strong start and Cade Smith covering 1 2/3 innings of dominance to close it out.
Ramírez’s postseason didn’t start cleanly. He opened October 0-for-6, but he finished with a .908 OPS, a surge fueled by that eye-popping homer against the White Sox.
The Guardians’ season still ended in disappointment against Chicago, but Ramírez’s blast gave Cleveland a jolt and another edge over the White Sox after beating them for the American League Central title.
His regular season had been slowed by second-half struggles tied to a hamate injury, but that was all pushed into the background by the swing that will stick as the lasting image of his season.
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Guardians Have One Prospect Who Could Change Their 2027 Lineup
The Guardians are heading into 2027 with the kind of young talent pipeline that can keep a contender from fading, and Ralphy Velazquez sits near the center of that conversation. After a strong 2026 season built in part on rookie production, Cleveland is looking at prospects who could help carry that momentum forward, and Velazquez has already put together the sort of minor league offensive showing that makes evaluators believe he can bring real power to the lineup.
Jaison Chourio and Khal Stephen are in the mix as well, giving the organization more than one avenue to keep refreshing the roster. Chourio could end up fighting for an outfield job, while Stephen is viewed as a pitching prospect with real upside, but Velazquez is the name that stands out as the one most likely to alter how the Guardians construct their everyday offense when 2027 arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Pitching Duo Just Earned Recognition For Clevelands October Run
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Williams led all postseason pitchers with 33 strikeouts while working to a 2.30 ERA over 15.2 innings, and Smith was nearly as sharp in relief with a 2.38 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 11.1 innings. The recognition underscores how much the Guardians leaned on both pitchers during October, and it also serves as a reminder that Clevelands playoff push was built as much on pitching depth as on any one breakout moment. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Offseason Push Could Hinge On One Contender-Making Trade
The Guardians offseason search for a lineup upgrade is already taking shape around a familiar front-office question: do they chase a proven name, or try to buy into a player whose best years still appear to be ahead? Several possible trade fits have surfaced, including Zach Neto, CJ Abrams, Jeremy Pea, Alec Burleson and Spencer Steer, each offering a different blend of upside, cost control and roster fit. For a club trying to improve for the seasons ahead, the appeal is obvious, especially when the goal is not just adding talent but finding someone who can grow with the core.
What makes the conversation more interesting is how those names line up with Clevelands needs. Some bring shortstop stability, others offer versatility or left-handed pop, and all come with contract situations that could make them more or less attainable. Nothing is close to official, and no deal has been made, but the fact that the Guardians are being linked to this kind of contender-making trade talk says plenty about the level of ambition being considered as the offseason unfolds. [Read more 🡒]