José Ramírez returns to Guardians after 5 weeks on injured list

Cleveland activated All-Star third baseman José Ramírez from the injured list Wednesday, per ESPN reporting, after he missed five weeks following left hand surgery to remove the hamate bone. Ramírez has been sidelined since getting hurt against Detroit on June 13 and went directly into the starting lineup, batting second and playing third base.

Ramírez, a seven-time All-Star, is one of baseball's most durable players. Before the injury, he was batting .239 with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs in 72 games this season. The 33-year-old owns numerous offensive club records for the Guardians and returned to action without a minor league rehab assignment.

The Guardians maintained competitive form during Ramírez's absence, going 15-15 over the five-week stretch. Cleveland entered Wednesday's game against Minnesota in a virtual tie for first place with the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central, according to ESPN.

The team optioned outfielder Kahlil Watson to Triple-A Columbus to make room for Ramírez on the roster. Watson batted .239 with one home run and 11 RBIs in 27 games during his stint with the Guardians, though he made a game-ending leaping catch down the right-field line on Tuesday night before crashing into the padded wall.

Ramírez dealt with a similar injury to his right hand in 2019, the only other time he has been on the injured list. His return addresses what was previously a significant gap in the Guardians' lineup at the position during the team's run to maintain its standing in a tight divisional race.