Every week throughout the 2017 regular season, we’ll handpick impressive, embarrassing and peculiar feats for you to witness across Major League Baseball. The following MLB milestones could be achieved from May 1-7, so adjust your viewing schedule accordingly. All stats current entering games of April 30.
Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays): most career walks, Rays franchise history
When it could happen: May 5-7 (vs. Toronto Blue Jays)
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find Tampa Bay records that don’t already belong to Longoria. He’s been an everyday player for literally half of the franchise’s existence, performing at a high level throughout and rarely missing time due to injury or rest. Plate discipline wouldn’t be considered one of Longo’s greatest strengths, and yet he’s racked up 536 walks. In just a matter of days, he will supplant former teammate Ben Zobrist‘s total of 542 for the No. 1 spot.
Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins): highest career slugging percentage, Marlins franchise history
When it could happen: any game this week
My April 17 watchlist highlighted one of Stanton’s warts: a nasty strikeout habit. On the bright side, he’s now on the cusp of reclaiming his rightful place as the Fish’s best power threat. Stanton boasted a .547 career slugging percentage through his age-25 season before an inconsistent 2016, which dragged him slightly beneath Gary Sheffield‘s franchise-leading mark (.543 SLG). This past April, thankfully, was a return to the glory days (.548 SLG). More of the same will propel him back on top.
Dustin Pedroia (Boston Red Sox): eighth place on Red Sox career hits list
When it could happen: any game this week
Eighth place might not seem so exciting at first glance, but consider that Boston has had this franchise since the 1901 season. In all that time, 1,770 different players have appeared in a game for the club. Pedroia’s 1,708th career hit would move him past Harry Hooper and directly behind Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr, the only Red Sox player who has had comparable production as a second baseman.
Adrian Gonzalez (Los Angeles Dodgers): longest career homerless streak
When it could happen: May 5-7 (vs. San Diego Padres)
The Dodgers have been the only MLB team to make it to the postseason each of the past four years, and Gonzalez has been a significant contributor throughout. With that said, they can’t be totally satisfied with his inconsistent power stroke. Including his final seven opportunities of 2016, Gonzalez entered Sunday’s game with 99 straight homerless plate appearances. Probably too soon to panic, of course—the club made it through April with a winning record, plus you’ll notice several other of their first baseman’s longest home run droughts also occurred at a similar stage of the season.
- April 18-May 18, 2012 (125 PA)
- April 5-May 12, 2006 (124 PA)
- May 21-June 23, 2014 (119 PA)
- August 25-September 22, 2012 (115 PA)
- June 12-July 10, 2016 (111 PA)
- August 10-September 7, 2008 (110 PA)
- April 7-May 3, 2011 (106 PA)
Ian Kinsler (Detroit Tigers): 7,000 career plate appearances
When it could happen: May 5-7 (vs. Oakland Athletics)
If this milestone seems kind of random, that’s because it is! Just wanted to take an opportunity to appreciate Kinsler’s career, one that’s coincided with a golden era of awesome all-around second basemen—Chase Utley, Robinson Cano, Dustin Pedroia, Jose Altuve, etc.—and been overshadowed by high-profile teammates (Josh Hamilton in Texas, Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander in Detroit). He has quietly topped 100 games played every season and eclipsed 200 career home runs and stolen bases, one of only three active players who can make that claim.
Pending MLB milestones mentioned in previous weeks
- Daniel Murphy (Washington Nationals): .300 career batting average
- Rajai Davis (Oakland Athletics): 1,000 career hits
- R.A. Dickey (Atlanta Braves): losses against every active MLB franchise
Featured image: 2017 Topps Series 1 Baseball “5 Tool” insert card