Last Updated on June 22, 2025 by Matt Musico
Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how elite a ballplayer is…they still perpetually get overlooked when discussing some of the game’s best players. I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion that I think Jim Thome was consistently underrated despite being a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Coincidentally enough, it’s happening to another Cleveland superstar: third baseman Jose Ramirez.
This guy has consistently been among MLB’s most productive and valuable players since 2017. He’s finished within the top 10 of American League MVP Award voting seven (!) times, which includes three separate top-three finishes. His 44.7 fWAR from 2017-24 ranks as the fourth-best mark in baseball. The only guys better? You might’ve heard of them: Aaron Judge (51.4), Mookie Betts (45.7), and Francisco Lindor (45.1).
Ramirez is doing more of the same in 2025, giving himself a good chance to be named an All-Star for the seventh time. He’s also less than 50 home runs and 50 steals away from joining the ultra-exclusive 300-300 club.
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Who Is In the 300-300 Club?
The combination of elite power and speed has to be one of the best in baseball for a hitter. There’s nothing quite like having the ability to change the course of a game with either a swing of the bat…or just by simply reaching base. The 300-300 club consists of just eight players:
- Barry Bonds: 762 homers, 514 steals
- Willie Mays: 660 homers, 338 steals
- Andre Dawson: 438 homers, 314 steals
- Bobby Bonds: 332 homers, 461 steals
- Reggie Sanders: 305 homers, 304 steals
- Alex Rodriguez: 696 homers, 329 steals
- Carlos Beltran: 435 homers, 312 steals
So, this list consists of two Hall of Famers (Mays and Dawson), two who would be in if it weren’t for their ties to performance-enhancing drugs (Barry Bonds and A-Rod), and one who will get in soon (Beltran).
As we can see, this is the pinnacle for the “masses” when it comes to homers and steals in one career. Barry Bonds is the only member of the 400-400 and 500-500 clubs.
Jose Ramirez’s Astonishing Yearly Consistency
As long as Ramirez is healthy for a 162-game season, you can just about pencil in what you’re going to get from him. Not counting the shortened 2020 campaign, the switch hitter entered 2025 with six straight seasons of at least 30 doubles, 20 homers, and 20 steals.
And based on his performance so far this season, that streak looks like a lock to stay intact.
Between 2017 and 2024, Ramirez suited up for 1,119 games. An average season for him includes a .280/.358/.530 triple slash, along with 30 homers, 37 doubles, 93 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 25 steals.
He’ll Catch Jim Thome…Soon Enough
If you wanted to say that Ramirez is already a Cleveland icon, I wouldn’t argue with you. I mean, he’s been with the franchise for 13 years and is signed through the 2028 season.
But what I’m thinking about most is how he’s ascending on Cleveland’s all-time home run leaderboard (duh!).
He’s already second on Cleveland’s all-time list. Ramirez is now chasing down his fellow underrated superstar, Jim Thome, who is at the top with 337 homers.
Considering the switch-hitter has slugged about 30 homers per season in recent years, we could see him overtake Thome sometime toward the end of 2026 or 2027 at his current pace.
Is Ramirez still a ways away from being on the precipice of the 300-300 club? Sure — it’ll likely happen at some point in 2026. But still, I think what he’s doing needs to be talked about more. Heck, he nearly posted a 40-40-40 season in 2024 and there’s more than a decent chance you didn’t hear about it (he finished with 39 doubles, 39 homers, and 41 steals).
Needless to say, I’ll be keeping an eye on Ramirez as he continues to build a Hall of Fame resume.
Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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