This article is compiled from Class A, Cleveland … Cooperstown? The journey of Lindor and Ramírez
The Lake County Captains’ infielders’ pregame ground-ball drills usually start with some basic pitches, getting into rhythm with head coach Dave Wallace’s at-bats. Once the players start getting into it, Wallace picks up the tempo and starts hitting fast, hard-to-handle balls, forcing players to move left and right to catch the ball.
This is a knockout match. One mistake and you’re out. Successfully complete the catch to stay. In the summer of 2012, Francisco Lindor and José Ramírez in 1A were almost always the last two guys left. “Suddenly, the whole team was gathered to watch the two of them on the court,” Wallace recalled.
Lindor and Ramírez kept challenging Wallace, asking him to hit faster and harder balls to test their handling up the middle and along the sidelines. With every perfect catch and accurate pass they made, the two teammates motivated each other and continued to raise the difficulty of the challenge. “They inspire each other’s work ethic and motivation to get better,” Wallace said. “They both want to be the best player on the court.”
And it worked.
Both of these two-handed infielders came from Cleveland’s system, reached the major league rookie qualifications one year apart (Ramírez in 2014, Lindor in 2015), and led Cleveland to win the American League Championship in 2016. League champion. They also began to receive All-Star honors, Silver Slugger Award recognition and MVP votes during the same period.
“We work very well together in the infield,” Ramírez said through translator Agustin Rivero, “because we know we want the same thing, we want to win.” Lindor added: “We have a healthy competition. Competing with each other, always saying: ‘Let’s get this done together.'”
They really accomplished a lot together. Now, both of them are quietly making their way into the Hall of Fame discussion.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s worth noting that the number of Latino players in the Hall of Fame remains relatively small. However, this year, with another outstanding season, Ramírez, the Guardians third baseman from Dominican Republic, and Lindor, the Mets shortstop from Puerto Rico, seem to be on the road to being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Their career statistics perfectly illustrate the top strengths of this contemporary star duo (data as of September 18):
Lindor, 30 years old this year and was traded to the Mets before the 2021 season, has been selected to four All-Star Games, three Silver Slugger Awards, two Gold Glove Awards and a Platinum Glove Award in his career. Ramírez, 31 (turns 32 this month), has played his entire career in Cleveland, winning six All-Star Games and four Silver Slugger Awards. In terms of WAR data, the average career bWAR for Hall of Fame shortstops is 67.7, and that for third basemen is 69.4.
So while neither has yet won an MVP, if they can stay healthy and continue to perform well into their 30s, there’s a chance they’ll be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“The best part,” said head coach Terry Francona, who coached them in Cleveland, “I don’t think they’ve changed at all. They may have more expensive cars, but when the game starts, they’re baseball players. Some people become entertainment stars. Damn it, we’re baseball players. If you play baseball the right way, that’s entertainment.”
Lindor and Ramírez are both gifted with speed, range and quick hands, but just watch them for a while and you’ll be shocked by their instincts. They’re always in the right spot before the play happens, know when to make aggressive moves on the bases, and exude joy and confidence at all times.
“The way they play,” Wallace said, “is very basic and focused, and that’s not easy.”
