2024 Baseball Eligibles (24)
You could say that Adrian Beltre is one of the most unlikely members of the 3,000 Hit Club. Perhaps it is because he did not win an MVP, and he also did not go to his first All-Star Game until he was 31, his 12th year in the Majors. To a casual fan, he was under the radar. To a true fan, he was on…
Born in the United States, but raised in Mexico, Adrian Gonzalez would have a very good career playing First Base in the Major Leagues. Gonzalez first debuted for the Texas Rangers, but it was in San Diego where he first came into prominence. With the Padres, he was a three-time All-Star and would secure four consecutive 30 plus HR seasons, including a career-high 40 in…
A Milwaukee Brewer for the first three years of his career, Alcides Escobar was traded to the Kansas City Royals in 2011, where he spent the next eight years as their starting Shortstop.
Bartolo Colon was a rotund individual, but pound for pound he was one of the most charismatic players in baseball, and doesn’t that say something?
Brad Ziegler was a relief pitcher throughout his entire career, and the submarine-style hurler would accumulate 105 Saves.
Brandon Morrow's best seasons were with the Toronto Blue Jays, where as a starter, he had three straight ten win years (2010-12), and in 2011 he had 203 Strikeouts and led the American League in SO/9 (10.2).
Brandon Phillips played most of his pro career in the state of Ohio, four years in Cleveland, and eleven years in Cincinnati. It was with the Reds, where the Second Baseman would have the best run of his career.
Chase Headley was a switch-hitting Third Baseman, whose career was spent mostly with the San Diego Padres.
Chase Utley came up through the Philadelphia Phillies system, and after debuting in 2003, he would quickly become the heart of a team that would win the 2008 World Series.
Playing all ten of his seasons in baseball with the Baltimore Orioles, Chris Tillman had five years where he was a solid rotation pitcher with the team (2012-16).
Playing his entire career with the New York Mets, David Wright would become one of the better Third Baseman in his time in baseball.
Known mostly for his speed, Denard Span used that skill to carve out an 11-year career in the Majors.
Playing for six teams (Seattle, Detroit, Washington, Houston, Boston & Texas) over ten seasons, Doug Fister spent his career as a middle of the rotation Starting Pitcher.
An innings eater throughout his career, James Shields used his fastball and changeup to be a solid starting pitcher over a long Major League career.
Jim Johnson played the first half of his career with the Baltimore Orioles, and in 2012 and 2013, he would lead the American League in Saves. An All-Star in 2012, Johnson finished seventh in Cy Young voting and was also the Rolaids Relief Award winner. Johnson finished first in Win Probability Added that season.
John Axford had his best years early in his career with the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2011, he won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year while leading the National League with 46 Saves. Axford finished ninth in Cy Young voting that season. He had three other years where he had at least 24 Saves, two of them as a Brewer.
The career of Jose Bautista is a fascinating one. After years of obscurity, a switch in his batting stance took him from journeyman to All-Star and someone who we deemed worthy of discussing.
The Dominican Republic has produced a plethora of excellent Shortstops, and Jose Reyes is one of the many that they provided.
With probably a better Hall of Fame resume than you may realize, Matt Holliday went to seven All-Star Games, was a four-time Silver Slugger, and has over 2,000 Hits and 300 Home Runs.