He’s ranked No. 1 at his position.
So why does José Ramírez look like a man with something to prove?
Rewritten, Dramatic Article
🚨 JUST IN: José Ramírez has officially been crowned the best third baseman in baseball — but instead of celebrating, he appears to be sending a message.
And it’s not subtle.
MLB Network recently ranked Ramírez as the top third baseman in the game for the second consecutive year, placing him ahead of Manny Machado (No. 5), Alex Bregman (No. 3), and Matt Chapman (No. 4). It marks the fourth time in his career he’s claimed that distinction — confirmation that he’s no longer “underrated,” but firmly established among baseball’s elite.
On paper, it’s validation.
But on Instagram? It looked like frustration.
As revealed on the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, Ramírez posted a screenshot of the MLB Network ranking on his Instagram story — with a shrugging emoji in the background. A digital eyebrow raise. A silent protest.
Why?
Because while Ramírez sits atop the list as baseball’s best third baseman, Manny Machado — ranked fifth — is reportedly set to start at third base for the Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Joe Noga, Guardians beat reporter for cleveland.com, broke down the post:
“It’s a screenshot of the announcement that Ramírez was named the top third baseman. And then in the background, there’s like a shrugging emoji. Like, yeah, well, I guess I’m the number one third baseman, but you’ve got this guy, No. 5 Manny Machado, starting for the Dominican Republic team. I really think José’s been chewing on that for some time now and he’s going to use that as motivation.”
That emoji may have said more than a press conference ever could.
Paul Hoynes added fuel to the theory, noting Ramírez’s reaction when asked about his WBC status.
“By the way he reacted to that question last week at the press conference of whether he was playing in the WBC for the Dominican or not — yeah, there’s something eating at him. There’s a story behind the story there.”
And that’s where this becomes dangerous — for the rest of baseball.
Ramírez has built his career on playing with a chip on his shoulder. Before the national rankings, before the major contract extension, before the MVP conversations, he was Cleveland’s overlooked superstar — producing at elite levels without the spotlight afforded to bigger-market names.
Now he has the spotlight.
But he also has fresh fuel.
For Guardians fans, this is the best-case scenario. A recognized superstar who still feels slighted is often the most terrifying version of an athlete. Ramírez ranked No. 5 overall on MLB Network’s Top 100 list. He’s financially secure. He’s respected league-wide.
And yet, he looks hungry.
Noga summed up what Cleveland supporters are thinking:
“You love when the Guardians players are underrated and overlooked. And I love it when they’ve got a chip on their shoulder and they’ve got something to play for. José’s going to come out pretty fired up. This is going to be a lot of fun to watch this year.”
The Dominican Republic’s decision to lean toward Machado at third base may have been strategic, political, or roster-based. But perception matters. And from Ramírez’s perspective, it may feel like a contradiction.
Best in baseball — but not the starter for your home country?
That tension doesn’t disappear quietly.
If history tells us anything, it turns into production.
For Cleveland, a motivated José Ramírez typically means MVP-level numbers, relentless consistency, and leadership that radiates through the clubhouse. He thrives when doubted. He explodes when challenged.
So while some may view the WBC situation as a snub, Guardians fans might see it differently.
They see gasoline.
And if that shrugging emoji is any indication, José Ramírez is entering 2026 with receipts.
Baseball just handed him another reason to swing harder.
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