(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Since he made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies in 2013, it was evident that Nolan Arenado would be a special player.
The game of baseball has seen precious few players with a more impressive offense-defense package than that of Arenado.
He became the face of the Rockies for eight seasons, until he was shockingly traded to the St. Louis Cardinals before the 2021 campaign.
When people doubted him and said he was only a productive hitter in Coors Field, he went out and proved them all wrong with two straight seasons with 30 homers and a .800 or better OPS in St. Louis in 2021 and 2022.
This year, he has overcome a horrible start to post a .850 OPS and 19 homers before the break, so even at 32, he remains highly productive.
He is on his way to immortality, and compares favorably to some Hall of Famers in lots of departments.
“The @Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado has 8 All-Star selections and 10 Gold Glove Awards before turning 33. Only five other players have done so in MLB history and they are all in the Hall of Fame: Johnny Bench, Ken Griffey Jr., Al Kaline, Brooks Robinson, and Ivan Rodriguez,” OptaSTATS tweeted.
The @Cardinals‘ Nolan Arenado has 8 All-Star selections and 10 Gold Glove Awards before turning 33. Only five other players have done so in MLB history and they are all in the Hall of Fame:
Johnny Bench
Ken Griffey Jr.
Al Kaline
Brooks Robinson
Ivan Rodriguez pic.twitter.com/Eb6xgl1HiJ
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) July 13, 2023
Winning 10 Gold Gloves at 32 years old requires some special defensive skills and breaking into the scene at a very young age.
Add eight All-Star berths, and you have something that only a handful of players throughout history can achieve.
Arenado still has a lot to contribute to an MLB team, even if he is not a 40-homer, 130-RBI hitter like he was in his prime.
Will the Cardinals trade him before the deadline?
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