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The 2024 season is just days away. It’s a time of renewed hope for at least the vast majority of teams. It also opens the opportunity for a few veteran players to continue building on what have already been very accomplished careers, some of which should happen early in the year.
Hits
- Freddie Freeman (2114; milestone: 2165 )
Among active players, Joey Votto leads the way with 2135 career hits. Votto is on a minor league deal with the Blue Jays and might start the season in Triple-A. Freeman will be back in the middle of a loaded Dodger lineup. While he won’t reach any notable round numbers this season — he has a shot to get to 2500 by the end of the ’25 season if he stays healthy — he’ll continue his ascent up the leaderboard in the next few months. Freeman needs only 51 more hits to surpass the original Billy Hamilton and climb into the top 200 on the all-time list. If he tops 200 hits for the second straight season, he’d pull alongside Eddie Mathews into the top 150 by year’s end.
- Paul Goldschmidt (1909; milestone: 2000)
Goldschmidt is 91 hits away from reaching the 2000 club. He’d almost certainly be the 297th player to get to that threshold, depending on whether Evan Longoria decides to continue playing. Longo is only 70 knocks away from that mark but was undecided on whether he’ll give things another go at last check. Even if Longoria does return, Goldschmidt could surpass him on the career leaderboard within a couple months. The 2022 NL MVP hasn’t had a stint on the injured list in almost a decade. If that continues, he should pick up hit #2000 sometime around the All-Star Break.
Notable players approaching 1500 hits: Mookie Betts (1485), Starling Marte (1470), Justin Turner (1461), Giancarlo Stanton (1454), Nick Castellanos (1451), Salvador Pérez (1411)
Home Runs
- Giancarlo Stanton (402; milestone: 432)
Stanton is the only active player with more than 400 career homers. There aren’t any traditional milestones upcoming but a 30-homer showing would put him in rare territory. Cal Ripken Jr. currently sits 50th all-time with 431 longballs. Stanton isn’t a lock to get there this year, as his overall production has plummeted over the past two seasons. Still, he topped 30 in both 2021 and ’22 and hit another 24 last year despite the worst numbers of his career.
- Mike Trout (368; milestone: 400)
Trout is the only player with a realistic shot to join Stanton in the 400-club this year, as he sits 32 away from that mark. After Votto and Longoria, Goldschmidt is next among active players at 60 homers away. Trout only hit 18 homers a year ago thanks to a hamate fracture in his left wrist. He’s only one season removed from popping 40, though. He’ll need to stay healthy, but he could get to 400 career homers in August or September.
- Paul Goldschmidt (340; milestone: 349)
Goldy will need to wait until 2025 to have a chance at the 400-homer plateau, but he’s nearing a notable spot on the leaderboard. With his ninth homer this year, he’d surpass George Foster and move into the top 100 in MLB history. As is the case with the hits milestone, Longoria could complicate this. Longo is at 342 career homers, although it’s unlikely he’ll hit seven more before Goldschmidt picks up his ninth of the season.
- Andrew McCutchen (299)/Anthony Rizzo (295; milestone: 300)
McCutchen and Rizzo should each join the 300-homer club early in the year. McCutchen almost certainly would’ve gotten there late last season were it not for a partially torn Achilles suffered in early September. The Pirates begin the season on a seven-game road trip before welcoming the Orioles to PNC Park in their home opener.
Rizzo also suffered an injury that kept him from the 300-homer plateau last year. After a torrid start, he suffered through a dismal slump related to what the Yankees believe was post-concussion syndrome arising out of a collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. on May 28. They shut him down in August. McCutchen and Rizzo should become the 12th and 13th active players (including Votto, Longoria and J.D. Martinez) to get to the 300-homer mark.
No one else is knocking on the doorstep of 300, although there could be one more late-season entrant to the group. Aaron Judge enters the year with 257 career longballs. A 43-homer showing is certainly within the range of outcomes if he stays healthy.
Notable players approaching 200 homers: Joey Gallo (198), Brandon Belt (194), Christian Yelich (193), Pete Alonso (192), Randal Grichuk (191), Justin Turner (187), Joc Pederson (186), Kris Bryant (182), Max Muncy (180), Cody Bellinger (178), Javier Báez (175), Xander Bogaerts (175)
RBI
- José Abreu (953)/Manny Machado (944)/Mike Trout (940)/Anthony Rizzo (930)/Bryce Harper (889; milestone: 1000)
There are nine active players who have driven in more than 1000 runs over the course of their careers: Longoria, Votto, Freeman, Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, McCutchen, Stanton, Carlos Santana and Martinez. The next five up all have a chance to join them, although it’d take a monster year from Harper to drive in 111. (Harper has topped that once, picking up 114 RBI for the Phillies in 2019.) Abreu, Machado and Trout should get there if they stay healthy. Rizzo could be a borderline case but drove in 70 as recently as two seasons ago.
Stolen Bases
- Jose Altuve (293)/Trea Turner (260; milestone: 300)
Among active players, Elvis Andrus leads the way with 347 career steals. He’s on a minor league deal with the D-Backs, though, so Starling Marte (338) is tops among players currently on a 40-man roster. Altuve and Turner are next in line and could each get to 300 this season. Altuve should do so with relative ease, even if he doesn’t run nearly as often as he did early in his career. Turner has an uphill battle. While he has twice topped 40 steals in a season, he hasn’t gotten past 32 in any of the last three years. To his credit, he went 30-30 last year, so there’s no questioning his efficiency.
Wins Above Replacement, bWAR
WAR doesn’t lend itself to milestone tracking with the same ease as the simpler counting stats. A player’s WAR total can go backwards, for one, and there’s no specific in-game moment when they’ll pass a certain threshold. Even if it’s not the easiest statistic to follow in real time, it’s one that teams and many Hall of Fame voters take into account, so it’s worth highlighting a few players.
- Mike Trout (85.2; milestone: 90)
The aforementioned hamate injury kept Trout to a modest 3-win season a year ago. B-Ref credited him with over six wins in 2022. Replicating that production would make him the only active player to surpass the 90-WAR threshold for his career, a mark topped by only 30 position players in league history. Trout currently sits 33rd on that list. He should pass Chipper Jones and George Brett this year, with an outside chance of tracking down Wade Boggs, Jimmie Foxx and Al Kaline.
- Mookie Betts (64.5; milestone: 70)
With another star-level season, Betts will surpass the 70-WAR threshold. Coincidentally, 70 position players in league history have gotten to that level. Of those players who are eligible for Hall of Fame consideration, only eight (Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Pete Rose, Bill Dahlen, Lou Whitaker, Rafael Palmeiro, Bobby Grich and Carlos Beltrán) aren’t enshrined in Cooperstown. There’s already no real doubt that Betts is en route to the Hall of Fame, but crossing the 70-WAR mark will further entrench him among the elite players in MLB history.
Notable players approaching 60 WAR: Freeman (55.7), Machado (54.9), Arenado (54.4)
Fart noise.
It’s sad to think that if Stanton wasn’t made of glass, he could already have over 500 career home runs.
Those 59 bombs in 2017 certainly helped his cause. If he stayed healthy for like 130 games, he’d have a couple seasons with 40-45 bombs in the bag.
I was going to same the same of Trout
His back is injured from carrying the team for so long.
Bobby Grich should’ve made the HOF. If he put up those same numbers as a Yankee he would’ve.
I doubt it… Lou Whitaker (75.1 WAR) had a similar career at 2B during the same time period (Grich 71.1 WAR) and did not get in either… they didn’t get in because second basemen are underrated, undervalued and underrepresented in the HOF – not because they weren’t Yankees – Willie Randolph (65.9 WAR) during the same time period and didn’t get in either
His traditional counting stats all fall short for his time. Defense was undervalued when he eligible for the HOF. Not true as guys like Willie Randolph and Bernie Williams aren’t in.
Randolph is a great comp. Good point.
Bernie Williams was CF and his WAR based scores are well below the average HOF member and below others of his era that aren’t there. He had a negative career dWAR and oWAR isn’t that impressive. Classic good but not great. Randolph is a better comp, but unlike Grich and Whittaker his WAR, WAR7, JAWS, and WAR/162 is all below the average HOF. Grich’s scores are all above. Whittaker’s WAR is well over the average HOF and his WAR/162 is dead on the average. His WAR7 is lower because he was stead his entire career and didn’t have huge years like many players. When you are as good or better than the average player at your position in the HOF, you belong in the HOF.
Agreed. Based on the criterias today, Bernie falls short.
One name: Figgins
Not 2B specific, but Nettles is another. Still ranks in the top ten in bWAR at 3B. Another is Munson at catcher. He led the entire 1970s in bWAR for catchers, RoY, MVP, first Yankee captain since Lou Gehrig — no support. Grich would have suffered the same fate as Nettles, Munson and Randolph.
Actually Nettles is 12th for 3B and his WAR, WAR7, JAWS, and WAR/162 is all below the average HOF. Munson has a much better case and will likely be in the conversation when Posey and Molina are up for votes. His numbers are all better than theirs and while Molina has a huge number of awards that push his HOF Score well above the average HOF member, Posey doesn’t. Randolph is the same as Nettles.
There are quite a few former Yankees that disagree with you about getting in the HOF just because they wore the pinstripes.
you’re going to the wrong diners
half these “milestones” aren’t “mile stones”, they’re kilometer markers
1 milestone is 1.60934 kilometer markers.
I’m excited to see Andrew McCutchen reach 300 homeruns. He’s been one of the best hitters to come out of the Pirates organization and he’s a pretty cool dude.
Freddie Freeman continues to amaze me, the dude is defying age and he might just rack up another 200 hits this season.
Ronald Acuna is within reach of 200 homers. He’s got 161 now.
This is a big year for Trout.
Yeah the rains should bring a good harvest. I’m excited too, going to try out some new bait this year.Peanut butter laced salmon eggs.i hope none of of them are allergic.
Trout is tied for 10th overall player by wRC+ and should surpass Gehrig and possibly Bonds this year to be tied for 8th. He’s the only active player within the top 10 but Yordan Alvarez is close, sitting at 166 wRC+ in 14th place.
Probably won’t reach the legendary Josh Gibson for most wRC+ in history (202) but might get within top 5 by the end of his career.
IMO, no one with less than 1,500 games played (about ten seasons) should be considered among the all-time leaders in any rate stats. Babe Ruth is the real wRC+ leader and Trout is currently 6th (he should pass 1,500 games this year).
That aside, wRC+ is not a counting stat as you seem to believe and Trout is coming off his worst year (132) since his rookie year. His career wRC+ likely drops in the years to come, not rises, possibly by 15+ points by the end of his career, depending how long he plays and how steep a decline he has. No chance he finishes ahead of Bonds or Gehrig.
@stormie
I never assumed it was a counting stat It’s possible but I think he’ll have a decent few years in the future, especially if the Angels decide to use him more often in the DH spot from time to time.
Very cool article. Thanks!
I agree. It’s fun to watch great baseball players play excellent baseball.
I had never heard of Bill Dahlen before.
My Non-Hall of Fame team….
LF Barry Bonds
2B Whitaker
3B Rose
C Thurmon Munson
SS ARod
1B Palmiero
RF Gary Sheffield
CF Kenny Lofton
DH Mark McGwire
Please feel free to debate
I like all the guys on your list, I have no problem with any of them, but that’s not how everyone will feel. Need a set of starters and relievers, I’ll throw in Roger Clemens as the ace.
How about Dave Righetti as your closer? Might be others more deserving but due to my age he’s the first that comes to mind.
Francisco Rodriguez?
@acoss13
Did you see Clemons pitching for the Bananas? He could probably still pitch as a RP today.
@Old York
I did see Clemens for the Bananas. The man still has it, and watching that wind up again was just awesome.
Of all those guys Lofton is the most puzzling to me. I get most of them have a black mark on their record but lofton should be in. Can’t say fairly on Whitaker or Munson as they really were before my time.
Whittaker is just like Lofton. Well deserving but the baseball writers didn’t bother voting for them because they weren’t high profile names. Munson probably suffered from being in the same era as Johnny Bench. His numbers aren’t close to Bench’s but no other catcher’s are either.
Unfortunately, Munson didn’t get the opportunity to put up the counting stats. His career was too short for Hall consideration.
Starting pitcher Clemens
Roger Clemens
Vida Blue
Luis Tiant
Curt Schilling
Bert Blyleven
Bullpen
Billy Wagner
Joe Nathan
Quisenberry
John Franco
K Rod
Blyleven is in the Hall of Fame. Replace him with Dave Stieb. Or Dave Cone. Or Dave Wells. Any Dave will do.
Any Dave will do… LOL, I didn’t know Blyleven made it. Tommy John would be a good choice. Or Bartolo Colon? Tanana or Pettitte? They are all great
Mike Cuellar and Dave McNally of Orioles lore. Winning records and low eras in regular season play. Plus each showed up in their playoff careers.
Might put Mac at first and Bonds at Dh ( assuming he is old bulky bonds) and add Sosa to take out Palmeiro
Bonds was a great fielder in his prime. I’d take out Big Mac and put in Manny Ramirez/Sammy Sosa.
Ybc or if you wanna get crazy with it how bout shoeless Joe in right?
@Melchez17
It’s a shame that Kenny Lofton isn’t in the HOF. He’s the 10th best CF in history of the game, based on JAWS
The only problem with the list is the garbage no named writer Melchez17.
I didn’t put Pujols in there because he will be in the Hall soon.
Might have Sosa ahead of Sheffield.
Shoeless Joe Jackson over Sheffield in RF. He put up great numbers in the Black Sox WS and didn’t deserve to be banned. Trusting your teammates and not being very bright don’t justify a lifetime ban from baseball and the HOF. Great list.
Nice… Shoeless Joe.
I want Reggie Smith in the HOF
Reggie Smith was an amazing player… switch hitter with power. Great player
That was my era… the ’70’s and 80’s.
This article smells like poo. Who cares about theses numbers?
If you don’t like MLBTR, I suggest this site. It’s more your speed:
tiddlywinks.org/
The baseball hall of fame is a joke
Is Derek I suck at defense but I am a SS Jeter in the hall of fame?
Yes,agree… his gold gloves are a joke on the system..
The same way Schilling has 3000 strikeouts and isn’t in it
Derek Jeter made 254 errors in 10,679 chances. Has a career fielding percentage of 97.6%. Over 23,225 innings.
NYG
The problem was only 10,679 chances in 23,225 innings
So no important milestones, thanks . I’m sure Freeman is counting down the days to 2165. I know I am
Cool article
Thanks
How about the fact Kershaw is closing in on 3000 strikeouts? 66 away from it if my math is correct
56 my bad
The Cardinals are still very fortunate to have icons Goldschmidt and Arenado at the infield corners. No telling how many throwing errors Goldschmidt saves each and every year at first base. Arenado has been a Gold Glover every year but one at 3rd base. You only have to go back 2 seasons in 2022 to appreciate Goldschmidt’s and Arenado’s offensive contributions they’ve made —- when Goldy won the National League MVP and Arenado finished 3rd.
2 Great stars ballplayers on one team ——Yet there are constant rumors from the Cardinals Front Office of trading both players. Not Praising them.
The Cardinals never have built around the two Stars to make a run at a World Series.
Two potential Hall of Famers who are highly underrated by the Cards Front Office.