Guardians' Ramírez recovering faster than expected from hand surgery

Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez is making a quicker-than-anticipated recovery from surgery on his left hand. The Dominican player had an operation on June 16 to fix a fractured hamate bone, an injury sustained three days prior during a game against the Detroit Tigers. The team announced Wednesday that Ramírez is nearing the next stage of his rehabilitation, which involves hitting. He has already resumed gripping a bat and has been training during his absence from games. The six-time Silver Slugger award winner has also been practicing fielding and throwing at a distance of 42 meters. Following the surgery, the Guardians initially projected a recovery period of five to seven weeks. Manager Stephen Vogt reiterated this timeline, stating, "We are still considering a timeframe of five to seven weeks." Based on this projection, Ramírez is expected to remain sidelined for another three to five weeks. Ramírez's performance this season has seen a dip compared to his usual standards. However, he still posted an OPS of .757 with 18 doubles, 10 home runs, 33 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases in the Guardians' first 72 games. The team's record in June was 10-14, including a 5-8 record without Ramírez. Overall, Cleveland held a 44-41 record, trailing the surprising Chicago White Sox by one game in the AL Central.

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We are still considering a timeframe of five to seven weeks.