Guardians notes: City of Cleveland honors Jose Ramirez, naming a street after the star

CLEVELAND — Jose Ramirez has gone above and beyond for Cleveland and its baseball team throughout his sparkling career. On Saturday, the city began to return the favor. In partnership with the Guardians, Cleveland recognized Ramirez by naming a street after him, "Jose Ramirez Way," which will connect José Ramírez Field at Clark Field — a $2.7 million youth baseball facility Ramirez helped fund — with Clark Ave. A ceremony was held at the field to commemorate the event, marking the first time a professional athlete in the city has had a street named after them, including LeBron James. It is the first step to honoring Ramirez, who will undoubtedly have a statue erected at Progressive Field when his career is complete. Manager Stephen Vogt and some of Ramirez's teammates were in attendance. "It's just incredible to see a city embrace someone who's brought the city so much joy and done so much for the community," Vogt said prior to Cleveland's game against Texas on Saturday night. "To be honored in that way for Jose Ramirez, somebody who didn't pick to come to Cleveland but has embraced that and really owned being here and wanting to stay here and wanting to be a part of Cleveland, for the city to recognize that and honor him in this way for what he's given to the city, it was a really, really special moment." Ramirez, a seven-time All-Star and arguably the greatest player in Cleveland history, has been the face of the franchise since shortstop Francisco Lindor departed in 2021. He has carried the Cleveland banner with excellence, grace and toughness. "He sets the standard for how baseball should be played on this team," Vogt said of Ramirez, who has finished among the top six in MVP voting six times. "He runs hard, he works hard, shows up every day, brings energy every day, gives everything he has, so everybody else does the same. And it does make (my) job a lot easier when your best player models how a baseball player should play. "The trickle-down effect is huge. It gives us an example for player development guys to talk to our young drafted (players) about. 'Hey, you want to know how to play baseball? Watch Jose.' It definitely has a huge impact beyond just what he brings on the stat sheet or affecting the game." Fry Day on Saturday Following the ceremony, Vogt and some players held a birthday party for David Fry's two-year old daughter Evelyn before the family returned to Texas. "We just decided that it was a good idea to have a birthday party. Their family's life just got shaken up pretty good. There are a lot of things that are bigger than baseball," Vogt said. Vogt said Fry, who was at the game Thursday against Detroit, was "doing better," after being struck in the face by a pitch from the Tigers' Tarik Skubal on Tuesday. "His spirits are obviously high. I know it's a shocker to everybody," joked Vogt. "The swelling seems to be going down a little bit. He's feeling better and better each day, so it is just good to have him around." Satisfying six-pack The six-man rotation paid off for the Guardians, but that doesn't mean Vogt will automatically employ it again late next season. "If the calendar and the roster allow you to do it, it's a great idea," he said. "It also has to be the right people, and it's definitely something that you store away in the memory bank, but like I say all the time, every year and every group of guys is very different. "So, to say that 'Oh, we'll do this next year,' maybe our calendar looks different next year in September and we don't have 24 games in 24 days. And the bullpen was also the perfect mix of guys to be able to sustain a six-man rotation. So every year, every situation is going to be very different." All six members of the rotation thrived under the system, providing Vogt with plenty of postseason options. "We've been pitching extremely well," said Vogt of a rotation that entered Saturday owning a 12-2 record and 1.81 ERA over its last 21 games since Sept. 5. "We feel really confident about the way our guys have taken the ball and gone with it, and we will see. We've got to get there, and then we'll make decisions after that." Roundin' third Vogt confirmed that reliever Nic Enright (right elbow/forearm inflammation) would not be an option for the postseason. ... Left fielder Steven Kwan's 21 defensive runs saved were tied with Boston's Ceddanne Rafaela for the most in the majors by any player at their respective position through Friday. He entered Saturday leading MLB outfielders with 13 outfield assists. … Sunday, 3:10 p.m., Guardians TV; WOBL 1320-AM and 107.7-FM, WTAM 1100-AM, WMMS 100.7-FM. TBA vs. TBA. Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on X @CAwesomeheimer.