Summarize and humanize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs in EnglishKANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Guardians can’t afford to lose José Ramírez, their perennial MVP candidate and the heartbeat of their lineup, for any extended period. They’re cautiously optimistic that it won’t be an issue.Ramírez exited Cleveland’s 4-3 loss to the Royals in the sixth inning on Saturday because of a mild right wrist sprain. He suffered the injury in the third inning, on an unsuccessful stolen-base attempt. As he awkwardly plunged into second base, he rolled over his wrist.He remained in the game, but his pain was evident during a fifth-inning at-bat. Ramírez fouled off a first-pitch sinker from Seth Lugo and immediately released his right hand from the bat upon contact. He grounded out on the next pitch, and Gabriel Arias replaced him at third base an inning later, after Ramírez approached the coaches and trainers about getting his wrist checked.Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said Ramírez is angling to play in the series finale on Sunday, but made no promises. “He’s day to day. … We’re gonna see how he feels in the morning,” said Vogt. “It’s early in the year. But I think I’m going to have to hold him down to keep him out of there.”Ramírez, who declined to speak with reporters but relayed through a team staffer that he was sore, did not undergo imaging, Vogt said.Left fielder Steven Kwan, who hit his first home run of the season Saturday, said it was deflating seeing Ramírez leave the game. Ramírez has appeared in 96.3 percent of Cleveland’s games over the past five seasons. He played through a torn right thumb ligament in the second half of 2022. That ailment required surgery after the season. In 2019, he returned from a surgically repaired hamate bone in his right hand several weeks early, and in his first two at-bats, he hit a grand slam and a three-run homer.“I think he’s good,” Kwan said. “He just seems like a tough guy who’s going to get through a lot of stuff.”Ramírez is second on the franchise’s all-time leaderboard with 255 home runs, 82 behind Hall of Famer Jim Thome. Last year, he finished one double and one homer shy of only the second 40-40-40 season in major league history (Alfonso Soriano, 2006). He is hitless in six at-bats to start the season.Last year, the Guardians lost ace Shane Bieber a week into the season. Bieber underwent Tommy John surgery after making his second start of the year. This time, they’re hoping their star player avoided the worst-case scenario.“We’re not going to take any chances,” Vogt said, “but José wants to play.”(Photo of Bobby Witt Jr. tagging José Ramírez as he attempts to steal second base in the third inning: Mikayla Schlosser / Getty Images)
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