Guardians' Gimenez, Ramirez, Clase shine in All-Star Game | Jeff Schudel

Jul. 20—Guardians president of baseball operations Chis Antonneti can be excused if he broke into a grin July 19 as he watched the American League beat the National League, 3-2, in the MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.

Three Guardians players — second baseman Andres Gimenez, third baseman Jose Ramirez and closer Emmanuel Clase — all played key roles in helping the A.L. win the Midsummer Classic for the ninth straight time.

Jose Ramirez connects for a single during the fourth inning of the All-Star Game July 19 in Los Angeles. (Jae C. Hong ??

Antonetti, as fans of Cleveland baseball have known for years, is the master at winning trades, and now anyone who paid close attention to how the Guardians contributed in the All-Star Game knows it.

Gimenez was named as a backup second baseman for the All-Star team, but he ended up starting because Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros, who would have started, was hit by a pitch in a game with the Angels on July 15. The injury forced Altuve to miss the All-Star game.

It did not take Gimenez long to show he belonged in the national spotlight.

Mookie Betts of the Dodgers was on first base in the bottom of the first inning. Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres was at the plate. Machado scalded a bouncer off the mound up the middle. It looked like it was ticketed for center field to put National League runners on first and second, but Gimenez left his feet stretching for the ball behind and to the left of second base. He backhanded it with his mitt, grabbed it lightning-quick from his glove and then flipped the ball behind his back to shortstop Tim Anderson (White Sox) to cut down Betts at second.

If you don't know that Andrés Giménez is a star, it's not our fault. We've been saying it all year, but this is the first time a lot of you get to see him play.

What a stud.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/Qjkn45O4ny

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 20, 2022

Anderson completed the double-play by firing the ball to first baseman Vladimir Guerreo (Blue Jays) to erase Machado. Guerreo had to tag Machado because the throw pulled him off the bag.

Gimenez saluted after making the play and flashed a grin bright enough to light up Dodger Stadium in case the sun wasn't up to the task.

Industrious fans with no rooting interest in the Guardians that might have felt compelled to do a little research would have discovered the Guardians got Gimenez, along with shortstop Amed Rosario, from the Mets for shortstop Francisco Lindor in January of 2021.

Gimenez was not unknown when the trade was made. He hit .268 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 49 games with the Mets in 2020, but he has definitely grown since the trade after hitting .218 last season in 68 games with the Indians.

Ramirez was 2-for-2 in the All-Star game with singles in the fourth and fifth inning. He scored on the two-run home run hit by Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees to tie the score 2-2 in the top of the fourth. J-Ram, maybe the happiest baseball player on the planet, is now 4-for-7 in four All-Star games.

Honestly, we were surprised he wasn't thinking double out of the box.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/l85kKRBM1d

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 20, 2022

Antonetti did not have to trade for Ramirez. Ramirez, from Bani in the Dominican Republic, was playing in the Dominican Prospects League when Ramon Pena, a scout for the Indians, discovered him playing second base in 2009 when Jose was 17. Ramirez signed for a $50,000 bonus and has been with the Indians/Guardians ever since. He is the face of the franchise and is the most beloved player on the team.

Then there is Clase, the 24-year-old flame thrower from the Dominican Republic. All Clase did in his first All-Star game was strike out the side on 10 pitches in the bottom of the ninth inning to preserve the 3-2 win for the American League. He got Garrett Cooper looking at a 99 mph cutter, Kyle Schwarber swinging at a 100 mph cutter and then he finished off Jake Cronenworth swinging at a 99 mph cutter to end the game. Clase pumped his fist, raw emotion showing on his face.

Our closer, who just struck out the side to earn the save at the All-Star Game, is 24 years old, by the way.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/GQdUUTwPpT

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 20, 2022

The trade for Clase was one of Antonetti's all-time all-timers. He acquired Clase from the Texas Rangers for two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber in December of 2019. Kluber was a fan favorite in Cleveland, but injuries started catching up to him when Antonetti shipped him out of town.

Clase had just one save in 21 games with the Rangers in 2019 but Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff saw talent that just needed polishing.

Clase had 24 saves with the Indians last season and already has 19 saves this year. He leads the American League with 36 games finished.

Now the baseball world knows about Clase, Gimenez and Ramirez, because on July 19 all three Guardians All-Stars sparkled on baseball's biggest stage.