José Ramírez Undergoes Surgery; Guardians Say 5–7 Weeks Recovery After Hamate Fracture

The Cleveland Guardians said star third baseman José Ramírez underwent surgery to remove the hook of a fractured left hamate bone, an injury the club said typically carries a recovery timetable of five to seven weeks. The expected absence is a significant blow for Cleveland, with Ramírez having appeared in every game this season before getting hurt.

The team said the procedure was performed in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, by Dr. Thomas J. Graham. According to the Guardians and an MLB report, the club said Graham was “pleased with the results.”

Ramírez suffered the injury Saturday, June 13, during Cleveland’s 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. He exited after the fifth inning. Manager Stephen Vogt said after the game that Ramírez first felt the injury on a swing that resulted in a foul popout to Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler in the fifth. Imaging after he left the game confirmed the fracture.

Vogt said Ramírez initially tried to remain in the game despite the injury.

“He tried to go back out. He knew the position we were in, grabbed his glove. He said, ‘Maybe I can at least play defense,’ and couldn't squeeze his glove. [He] wanted to get back out there to help us win that game and just couldn't,” Vogt said, according to MLB.

The Guardians placed Ramírez on the injured list Sunday, June 14. In corresponding roster moves, Cleveland activated infielder Gabriel Arias from the 60-day injured list and designated outfielder George Valera for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

Hook-of-hamate injuries are a familiar issue in baseball, particularly for hitters, and surgical removal of the fractured portion is a standard treatment. The Guardians’ stated five-to-seven-week timetable fits the usual recovery window for similar injuries.

Ramírez is Cleveland’s franchise cornerstone and everyday third baseman, making the loss especially notable even as the club awaits his return. Before the injury, he had played in all 72 of the Guardians’ games in 2026. At the time he went on the injured list, he was batting .239 with 10 home runs, 33 RBIs, 24 stolen bases and a .757 OPS over 268 at-bats.

The injury also carries some history for Ramírez. He previously sustained a hamate fracture in his right hand in August 2019 and underwent surgery then as well.