AL DIVISION SERIES: WHITE SOX VS GUARDIANS

October 10, 2026

Jose Ramirez

Progressive Field

Cleveland Guardians

Postgame 5 Press Conference

Q. José, on that home run, I think they said that's the lowest pitch that you've ever hit, much less for a home run. What made you decide to take the swing there?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: We've faced him a couple of times. So we know he has a really good curveball. So in that AB, I was looking for a curve ball for strike. So I was able to get my legs and get a good contact, and that's the plan on that AB.

Q. José, what's happened to you these last three games after so much struggle? You look like your old self. What's happened?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: I feel like it's the focus. The focus is always the same trying to do the best for the team and these last three games, yeah, it's shown up in the results. But for me, it's the always the same focus and what I need to do for the team.

Q. Does the postseason, the big stage have anything to do with it?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: Yeah. Clearly. Always these games you want to do your best because it's do or die. You don't win, you go home, and this team really wants to do the right things, and for me, that's the thing. And thank God it came out for us.

Q. What makes this team really special? You guys are down 0-2 in the series. It seemed like it didn't bother you. You come back and you win it.

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: I think the key was the mindset. As a group, we had a clear mindset that we knew we could come back. Yeah, we knew we lost the first two games, but we knew we could come back for those three games. We knew we come back and play our game, and we just had to understand that.

Q. What does it say to you and for Gavin to go out and have the start that he did tonight?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: It doesn't surprise me. I was really confident when I knew there was going to be the pitcher for Game 5 and that he was going to take the ball, that's the confidence that we needed to have the game that we had.

Q. José, what's it been like for you to see Gavin kind of go from this quiet guy to, you know, more assertive, more joking and showing more personality this year?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: I even noticed in the change for him, and he can be that quiet guy, but he's that silent killer. He's going to go and do his best. And I'm very happy to see the progression of the guy where he is right now. I'm really happy to see him like that.

Q. The crowd seemed like they were behind you from the jump. I was walking downstairs, and after the game had ended, they were still chanting your name over and over again. What did it mean tonight to have that energy from the fans, for the team as a whole, but also, just for you in general?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: I always say that. I don't get tired of saying like our fans here give us all the support and not only to me, but to all the guys and that's something that I appreciate greatly.

Q. José, you go through -- you guys play so long, even back to spring training, plus the 162. How does that grind challenge you guys and then how does it add to the satisfaction when you get to celebrate moments like this?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: These moments are really special. It's just the grind from spring training, but you know you have a clear goal to come to the playoffs. So once you're here you realize, okay, this is what we worked for and now it's time to enjoy and when we start enjoying that, it keeps us to play more.

Q. When you come back and win a hard-fought series like this, does it give you maybe the idea that this is the year you guys break through and win it all, because I know you've taken a lot of cracks at it?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: The mindset is always the same regardless of the outcome. That's baseball. You have to always find a way how to win, and that's what this group has done, find the ways to win. And for us, it's going to continue to be the same find ways to win and how we can go to the next round.

Q. José, what makes you guys so good with your backs against the wall, and also what kind of pitch was that?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: I mean, I just come to unity of the team. Unity of the team is what keeps it happening. We knew our backs were against the ball, but that's what we were here to do. And home run pitch.

Q. José, you were part of that 2017 team that had the 2-0 lead in the DS and lost it to the Yankees. How does it feel to be on the other side down 0-2 and win the last three?

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ: In the playoffs, it's a different nature. That's going to happen in those games and sometimes you are going to be against the wall and come back, but also if you don't do your things, you might lose.

I have been lucky to have a lot of opportunities in sports, and I know this is what we try and having fun. And I knew that we would have the chance to turn things around and that's where gradually we were able to do.