Cleveland baseball fans should never take a hitter like Jose Ramirez for granted.

The third baseman won the American League Silver Slugger Award for the fifth time in his career, breaking a tie with Albert Belle for the most in Cleveland history.

His previous wins came in 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2022.

Ramirez came within one double and one home run of becoming the second player in history to record 40 doubles, 40 homers, and 40 stolen bases.

If the last game of the season hadn’t been rained out, he might have done it.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WINNERS

Other American League Silver Slugger award winners were the following, as voted by managers and coaches:

·      Salvador Perez (Royals catcher)

·      Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays first baseman)

·      Jose Altuve (Astros second baseman)

·      Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals shortstop)

·      Aaron Judge (Yankees outfielder)

·      Juan Soto (Yankees outfielder)

·      Anthony Santander (Orioles outfielder)

·      Brent Rooker (Athletics designated hitter)

·      Josh Smith (Rangers utility player)

Altuve has racked up seven Silver Sluggers, tying Ryne Sandberg for first place on the all-time list among second basemen.

NATIONAL LEAGUE WINNERS

In the National League, these were the Silver Slugger winners:

·      William Contreras (Brewers catcher)

·      Bryce Harper (Phillies first baseman)

·      Ketel Marte (Diamondbacks second baseman)

·      Francisco Lindor (Mets shortstop)

·      Manny Machado (Padres third baseman)

·      Jackson Merrill (Padres outfielder)

·      Jurickson Profar (Padres outfielder)

·      Teoscar Hernandez (Dodgers outfielder)

·      Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers designated hitter)

·      Mookie Betts (Dodgers utility player)

Betts won his seventh Silver Slugger award, collecting most of them with the Boston Red Sox.

Silver Slugger Awards also go to the best hitting teams. Predictably, the Yankees and Dodgers won those awards.