CLEVELAND -- Jose Ramirez wants to remain an impactful hitter for the balance of the regular season, and potentially, the playoffs, which is why he elected not to participate in the 2018 Home Run Derby as part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game festivities.
According to Ramirez, he met with team officials and it was a mutual decision for him not to participate in the Home Run Derby, which has not had a representative of the Indians since outfielder Grady Sizemore played in the 2008 event at Yankee Stadium.
“I sat down with the team, and we made a decision, all of us together, and we just decided that it wasn’t the best thing for me to do at this time,” Ramirez said through an interpreter following Wednesday’s 19-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field.
“No, it’s really a long season. I’m a player that plays every day, and I need to save energy for the second half, and God-willing, the playoffs as well.”
PHOTOS: Cleveland Indians cruise past Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field
The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Ramirez leads the Indians and is second in all of Major League Baseball with 27 home runs, which ties him with former Cleveland slugger Albert Belle for the most round-trippers before the All-Star break in team history.
Belle smashed 27 homers in the 1996 season.
“We all made the decision together,” Ramirez said. “We all made the decision together. It wasn’t just one person. We just made the best decision for me.
“We all made the decision together. We all made the same decision.”
Even having the chance to compete with a former teammate, Milwaukee’s Jesus Aguilar, who was the winner of the fans’ final-vote contest, was not enough for Ramirez to participate.
“No, I don’t think I would’ve changed my mind, but I’m really happy for him,” Ramirez said. “It’s going to be fun to watch him compete. He’s really a brother of mine.”
In Wednesday’s win over the Reds, Ramirez led the way with five RBI to go along with two each from catcher Yan Gomes, first baseman Yonder Alonso, outfielders Michael Brantley and Tyler Naquin and second baseman Jason Kipnis, as well as three from shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Both of Brantley’s RBI and three of Ramirez’s five came with two outs.
Ramirez enters the final series before the All-Star Game break, a four-game set with the New York Yankees, not only with 27 home runs, which are just two short of the career-high 29 round-trippers he hit last season, but also, with 26 doubles, 65 runs batted in, 63 scored and 101 hits in 345 at-bats.
Along with his .293 batting average, Ramirez has .392 on-base, .609 slugging and 1.001 on-base-plus-slugging percentages through 90 games for the American League Central Division-leading Indians.
“No, I’m really not surprised at all,” Ramirez said of his power surge. “Like I’ve said before, I put in a lot of work in the offseason. I work with the goal to get ready for the season.”
