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MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players in the game today

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 29: Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) reacts as he sees on a scoreboard replay that Seattle Mariners outfielder Ben Gamel (16) dropped a ball he was called out on during the seventh inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians on April 29, 2018, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. After a replay review Ramirez was awarded second base and 2 runs batted in. Seattle defeated Cleveland 10-4. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 29: Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) reacts as he sees on a scoreboard replay that Seattle Mariners outfielder Ben Gamel (16) dropped a ball he was called out on during the seventh inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians on April 29, 2018, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. After a replay review Ramirez was awarded second base and 2 runs batted in. Seattle defeated Cleveland 10-4. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

22. Jose Ramirez

Not much more than a role player his first three years in the big leagues, Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez burst onto the scene in the 2016 season to hit .312/.363/.462 with 46 doubles, 11 home runs, 76 RBI and 22 stolen bases. The utility man had hit just .239/.298/.346 with 24 doubles, eight home runs and 44 RBI in his first 180 MLB games.

The exponential rise in production did not end for Ramirez in 2017. He hit .318/.374/.583 with an MLB-leading 56 doubles, six triples, 29 home runs, 83 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Ramirez generated all of that power yet struck out only 69 times with 52 walks. For his efforts, he was rewarded with an All-Star nod, a Silver Slugger and a third-place finish in the AL MVP vote.

For the Indians, the best part of Ramirez emerging as a superstar is the fact that he was willing to sign a long-term extension after his first big season. Small-market Cleveland has one of the league’s best infielders signed to a five-year, $26-million deal with two options that can take the total value of the contract to $40 million. If Ramirez is for real, the Indians control him through the end of his age-30 season.

Even if Ramirez never quite approaches MVP levels again — and there’s no reason to believe he is a flash in the pan considering he has now received MVP votes in two straight years — he is one of the most versatile defenders in the league. He can play third base, second base and left field well and has even started 100 games at shortstop in his career.

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