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Cleveland Indians: Jose Ramirez is a legitimate superstar

ByDavid Hill|
CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 15: Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) slide head first into third base ahead of the throw to New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar (41) as Ramirez advanced to third base on a throwing error by New York Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka (66) (not pictured) during the eighth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians on July 15, 2018, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland defeated New York 5-2. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 15: Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) slide head first into third base ahead of the throw to New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar (41) as Ramirez advanced to third base on a throwing error by New York Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka (66) (not pictured) during the eighth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians on July 15, 2018, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. Cleveland defeated New York 5-2. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

He does not get enough credit, but Cleveland Indians infielder Jose Ramirez has become a legitimate superstar.

Very quietly, Cleveland Indians infielder Jose Ramirez has turned into a star. After a solid 2016 campaign, he had a breakout season last year, producing a .318/.374/.583 batting line, hitting a league leading 56 doubles, along with 29 homers and stealing 17 bases. He made his first All Star Game, and finished third in the MVP vote. At just 24 years old, Ramirez appeared to be heading towards stardom.

Ramirez has taken a major step towards that status this season. With his stolen base on Sunday, he became the fifth player in MLB history to have 25 homers and 20 steals before the All Star Break. He joins Bobby Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Eric Davis, and Alfonso Soriano in that elite group.

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Obviously, with Ramirez being just 25 years old, it is difficult to project what type of player he ends up becoming. However, based on that list, he has a bright future if he can remain healthy. Bonds and Rodriguez are two of the nine members of the exclusive 300 homer/300 stolen base club, a feat that Ramirez could accomplish over his career. Rodriguez and Soriano are also a part of the even more exclusive 40-40 club, although Ramirez would need to increase his production on the basepaths to become the fifth member of that fraternity.

Barring injury, it would seem to be a forgone conclusion that Ramirez will become a member of the 30-30 club this year. Every other player on that list reached that mark, and Ramirez has an excellent chance to get there in just a few weeks.

This performance may also be enough to make Ramirez a legitimate candidate for the AL MVP award. This year, it seems to be a two player race between Mike Trout and Mookie Betts, but Ramirez deserves to be in that conversation. Not only does he lead the league in home runs, but his 6.5 WAR is second in the AL. Ramirez is also eighth in the AL in defensive WAR this season, and appears to have found a home at third.

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Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez is becoming a superstar before our eyes. His incredible performance this year may just be the beginning.

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