Cleveland Guardians lose Jose Ramirez to broken hand against Tigers

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez has suffered a broken bone in his left hand during Saturday’s 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers and faces an indefinite spell on the sidelines.

The 33-year-old sustained the fractured hamate bone while swinging the bat to lead off the fifth inning.

Manager Stephen Vogt confirmed the extent of the damage following the game after imaging tests revealed the break.

Major blow for reigning champions

Losing the seven-time All-Star represents a significant setback for the two-time defending American League Central champions.

The switch-hitter is widely regarded as the cornerstone of the Cleveland franchise.

Despite his talismanic status, the veteran infielder had been enduring a difficult season at the plate, batting just .238 with 10 home runs and 33 runs batted in prior to this setback.

Recurring hand issues compound injury woes

This is not the first time the Dominican star has encountered this specific issue, having previously fractured his right hamate bone in 2019.

That earlier injury sidelined him for over a month and currently stands as his only career stint on the injured list.

Cleveland’s physical problems compounded early in Saturday’s contest as two further players were forced out of the action.

Chase DeLauter exited with a bruised right rib cage, while fellow outfielder Angel Martinez sustained a bruised foot after fouling off a pitch.