One game ago, Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado helped his club claw back into a game they trailed 7-0 with a game-tying home run. On Monday night against the Athletics at Chase Field, he joined an elite MLB club.
Arenado ripped a line drive to left field off Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs and chugged into second base in the fifth inning. With the double, Arenado recorded his 2,000th major league base hit.
Arenado became the 297th player in major league history to reach that milestone threshold.
He’s also only the sixth active MLB player to do so. He joins Padres third baseman Manny Machado, Yankees and former D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve and Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman — elite company, without a doubt.
He’s also the third Diamondbacks hitter to reach that marker while with Arizona, joining a pair of World Series-winning outfielders in Luis Gonzalez and Steve Finley.
Arenado, obviously, is known for his elite defensive work at third base. His 10 gold gloves and exceptional third base presence could be enough to make him an all-time great as is.
Though the bat has not quite been as strong as it once was in the latter years of his career, he’s been productive for the Diamondbacks. Monday’s milestone double raised his full season slash to .245/.319/.425 and his OPS to .744.
He has 13 home runs and 18 doubles in his first season as a member of the D-backs, who acquired him away from the St. Louis Cardinals in a trade this offseason. And so, he joins elite company with Arizona, and adds to his already-packed future Hall Of Fame resume. Arenado is a surefire Cooperstown inhabitant.
Add us as a preferred source on Google
