CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez entered exclusive company Monday night.
The Guardians' all-star third baseman played in his 1,620th game, becoming Cleveland's franchise leader in games played.
Ramírez not only surpassed Terry Turner's mark, which stood more than 108 years, he became the only active player to lead his team in games played.
“Obviously it's something fun to accomplish, but that’s not my ultimate goal with the team,” Ramírez said after going 0 for 2 with two walks in a 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
Before the sixth inning, when the game became official, Ramírez was saluted by the crowd at Progressive Field. He received the third-base bag from longtime Cleveland first-base coach Sandy Alomar Jr.
Out of the 31 franchise leaders in games played, 21 are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Pittsburgh's Roberto Clemente and Honus Wagner — both Hall of Famers — are tied at 2.433 games played.
“Those mean a lot because those are the two main things that I’m focused on — work to get to the Hall of Fame and also win a World Series,” Ramírez said through interpreter Agustin Rivero.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro — Cleveland's assistant hitting coach from 2014 through '17 — has always appreciated Ramírez’s consistent approach and routine to the game.
“He physically matured, that’s the one thing," Quatraro said before the game. "In ’15 when he got sent down, he was swinging at everything. When he came back up, he was taking pitches and taking walks. And the next year, he started hitting for power.”
Ramírez made his major league debut on Sept. 1, 2013, as a pinch runner for Carlos Santana during the ninth inning of Cleveland’s game at Detroit. He has been part of six AL Central Division titles, including the 2016 World Series squad, which lost in seven games to the Chicago Cubs.
He is the only player in Cleveland’s 125-year franchise history to have at least 250 home runs and 250 stolen bases. He currently has 286 home runs and 289 stolen bases.
Ramírez leads the franchise in extra-base hits (729) and has 27 multihomer games. He ranks second in home runs, stolen bases, total bases (3,018), and RBIs (954), third in doubles (400) and seventh in hits (1,674).
Turner spent 15 of his 17 big league seasons with Cleveland from 1904 through ’18 and played in 1,619 games.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Fans cheer as Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez runs out to the field in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Cleveland, Monday, April 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez holds the base after being presented with it after the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals to commemorate his record 1,620 games as a Cleveland Indian/Cleveland Guardian in Cleveland, Monday, April 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 6, 2026--
Leading brands, including Walmart, have signed letters of support for unspun's plan to build domestic manufacturing capacity in the U.S. using an AI-enabled 3D weaving technology designed to bring apparel manufacturing closer to consumers at a commercial scale. Supply chain partners Bethel Industries, Peckham, and PDS Ltd / GSC Link are also participating to help establish automated domestic production hubs, with initial production on the near-term horizon.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260406680698/en/
With more than $50M in VC funding, unspun is advancing its proprietary 3D weaving technology — an AI-enabled system that produces garments directly from yarn via a highly automated process. REI has also signed a letter of support for the initiative, reinforcing broad industry demand for reshored, next-generation apparel manufacturing. unspun has equipment ready for deployment and is currently evaluating sites across multiple states.
“We are not exploring whether domestic apparel manufacturing can work. We are building it,” said Arne Arens, CEO of unspun and former Global Brand President of The North Face. “Our clients are looking for a new production model because they see the economics: manufacturing closer to the customer, responding to demand within the same season, and creating skilled American jobs in the process.”
unspun’s 3D technology weaves semi-finished garments directly from yarn in minutes, transforming dozens of traditional cut-and-sew steps into a single, automated process. The platform enables brands to produce closer to demand, reorder within the same season, and significantly reduce excess inventory — an issue that costs the industry billions each year. By shortening production timelines from months to days, 3D weaving can improve gross margins by 400–500 basis points through fewer markdowns and write-offs, while also supporting the creation of skilled manufacturing jobs in the U.S. This approach is designed to unlock domestic, demand-driven production at commercial scale as the apparel industry shifts toward next-generation manufacturing systems.
Avisnash Bhasker, Vice President, Apparel Production Development at Walmart, said, “Our customers are proud to buy apparel made in America, and the demand keeps growing. We are excited about unspun’s commitment and effort in helping rebuild domestic manufacturing capability that is faster, smarter, and designed for how customers actually shop.”
unspun is currently evaluating potential locations, infrastructure requirements, and workforce training programs as it moves toward establishing the first automated apparel manufacturing hubs in the United States powered by 3D weaving technology. The initiative represents one of the first examples of AI-enabled automation being deployed to rebuild domestic manufacturing capacity at scale.
Arens was appointed CEO in March 2026, bringing decades of experience leading global consumer brands, including The North Face and Boardriders, the parent company of Quicksilver and Billabong. His appointment signaled unspun's shift from technology development to industrial-scale deployment.
About unspun
unspun is a U.S.-founded, B Corp-certified technology company that is transforming apparel manufacturing. We achieve this through our automated 3D weaving technology. This innovative process produces semi-finished products directly from yarn, which enables localized production, shorter supply chains, and significantly reduced waste. unspun partners with global brands and manufacturers to build a more efficient and resilient apparel industry. They have been recognized internationally as a Certified B Corporation, a Fast Company Most Innovative Company, a TIME Top GreenTech Company, and more.
unspun's 3D weaving facility in California
