José Ramírez Joins 250-250 Club in Guardians Walk-Off Win

Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez reached a historic milestone that put him in one of baseball’s most exclusive clubs. In a thrilling extra-inning win over the Minnesota Twins, Ramírez became the first player in Guardians history to collect both 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases. The way he reached that milestone made it even more special, as it happened in dramatic fashion.

The moment happened in the 10th inning of a tied game. With one out, Ramírez smacked a single to right field. He rose to the moment, stealing second base when his team needed it most. It was the 250th stolen base of his career, officially placing him in the exclusive 250-250 club. Moments later, he scored the winning run on a walk-off single by Angel Martínez, sealing a 4-3 victory for Cleveland.

Ramírez became the first player in Guardians history to reach both 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases. He’s just the 24th player in MLB history to reach the milestone, and only the seventh to do it entirely with one team. He’s also the first primary third baseman and only the second switch-hitter to join this elite group. "I feel very happy about achieving it," Ramírez said about joining the 250-250 club. "But most importantly, thank you God for keeping me healthy and being able to play the game." (MLB.com)

A Storied Career

Ramírez’s path to greatness started in Baní, Dominican Republic, where he grew up before beginning his professional baseball journey. He signed with Cleveland as a 17-year-old and worked his way up through the minor leagues. Since making his major league debut in 2013, he has become one of the best and most underrated players in baseball. Now in his 13th season, he’s a six-time All-Star, a five-time Silver Slugger, and a big reason the Guardians made it to the 2016 World Series. He has received MVP votes in eight different seasons, including a fifth-place finish in 2024.

In 2022, Ramírez signed a seven-year, $141 million contract extension with the Guardians. He took what’s called a “hometown discount,” meaning he chose to stay with Cleveland for less money than he could have made somewhere else. It showed how much he values the team, the city, and the fans At 32 years old, Ramírez isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Just last season, he came incredibly close to making more history, falling just one home run and one double short of a rare 40-40-40 season-40 doubles, 40 home runs, and 40 stolen bases. His all-around talent remains as sharp as ever.

Ramírez says he still feels young and hungry to keep going. “Milestones are important, but for me the really important part is to keep playing and trying to win,” he said. “Winning is the most important thing for me and I feel still young. I feel like I can still continue doing this and hopefully we can continue adding up.” (Associated Press)

Looking Forward

Now, he has his sights set on the even more exclusive 300-300 club, which only a handful of MLB players have reached. If he continues at his current pace, a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame seems likely for the Cleveland star.

With more milestones on the horizon and his commitment to bringing a championship to Cleveland, José Ramírez continues to build his legacy as one of the greatest players in franchise history.