MLB: Player milestones within reach during the 2018 season

A rather mundane MLB offseason has baseball fans craving the regular season more than ever. With the regular season less than 80 days away, let’s take a look at some player milestones that could occur in 2018.

Player milestones provide some of the best moments during an MLB season. Sometimes these milestones lead to the whole team celebrating on the field, and other times players celebrate it in a more calm manner.

Milestones are a big part of sports because it’s an accumulation of a player’s career achievements. And when a player achieves a specific milestone, the whole MLB community embraces the success.

In 2017, MLB saw multiple milestones reached, including Albert Pujols hitting his 600th home run, Adrian Beltre collecting his 3,000th hit and Clayton Kershaw recording his 2,000th strikeout.

These player accomplishments mean even more in baseball because of how important numbers are in the sport. Especially in today’s game, where baseball has really seen a shift in the analytics of the game.

Whenever players are compared, statistics become a big discussion on who is the better player. So not only are these milestones important to the player themselves but also for the player’s impact on the game. These individual accomplishments can also play a very strong role in if he makes the hall of fame.

As we inch slowly toward the start of the 2018 season, let’s take a gander at some milestones that a few individual players could reach this season.

Albert Pujols

The 2017 season was a big milestone season for Pujols. As mentioned in the first slide, the 37-year-old hit his 600 home run last season. A feat that only eight other players achieved before him.

Along with reaching that home run plateau, Pujols continues to move up the ranks in multiple offensive categories, while passing other players in those categories along the way.

Pujols has two milestones that he is creeping toward and could reach in 2018. The first of the two is joining the 3,000-hit club. Sitting at 2,968 hits, the slugger remains just 32 hits away from No. 3,000. Barring any type of injury near the beginning of the season, Pujols could easily reach the milestone in April or May.

One of the most prestigious clubs in the game, the 3,000 hit club includes just 31 players. Pujols looks to become the 32nd member of the club.

Another milestone that Pujols can reach in 2018 is 2,000 RBI. Currently, at 1,918 RBI, Pujols needs 82 more to join the 2,000 RBI club. Only four other players achieved 2,000 RBI in their careers (Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Alex Rodriguez and Cap Anson).

Despite Pujols’ age catching up with him and a clear decline in his game, the veteran still managed to knock in 90-plus runs in five of the past six seasons.

If Pujols remains healthy in 2018, he shouldn’t have a problem reaching these career accomplishments.

CC Sabathia

Just a few years removed from struggling career lows and entering rehab for alcohol addiction, CC Sabathia has found success once again on the mound. At 37 years old, Sabathia isn’t the Cy Young award winner he was back in his younger ace days but he remains a solid middle of the rotation pitcher.

The way he pitched in 2017 earned him a new contract with the New York Yankees. Sabathia and the Yankees agreed on a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason. His career resurgence is allowing him to move up in career ranks and he’s moving closer to a milestone.

Sabathia currently sits at 2,846 strikeouts, leaving him just 154 strikeouts from joining the 3,000 strikeout club. Only 16 other pitchers in MLB history have reached 3,000 career strikeouts.

Although, 154 strikeouts won’t be an easy task for Sabathia. He struck out 120 batters in 2017 but the year before that he reached 152 strikeouts. With Sabathia reinventing himself on the mound, his K/9 has declined.

If the left-hander can stay healthy and follow up his excellent 2017 season with another good season in 2018, he has a shot to reach 3,000 strikeouts this coming season. And even if he can’t pull off the feat in 2018, it is almost a guarantee that he’ll accomplish this amount by the 2019 season.

Justin Verlander

After spending a majority of the 2017 season with a team that had no chance of competing, the Detroit Tigers traded Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros, and ultimately, helped him become a World Series champion. He had to allow the trade to happen because of a no-trade clause in his contract. And it looks like that decision paid off for him.

Entering his age 35 season, Verlander continues to etch his way as one of the top pitchers of the 2000s. To go along with his already Rookie of the Year award, Cy Young award and MVP, Verlander has some career milestones within reach over the next few seasons.

For the 2018 season, Verlander has a good shot to reach 200 wins. The right-hander possesses 188 wins at the moment, leaving him 12 shy of the 200-win mark.

Of course, 200 wins isn’t as remarkable as 300 wins, but nonetheless, the achievement is still impressive, especially when the game is vastly changing into a bullpen-heavy style.

When Verlander reaches 200 wins, he’ll become the 117th pitcher to do so. Since 2006, Verlander’s recorded at least 13 wins in 10 out of the last 12 seasons. And with the high-powered offense of the Houston Astros, he should get a good amount of opportunities to pitch with a lead in 2018.

Craig Kimbrel

One of the most feared pitchers on the mound is Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel. Owning nearly unhittable pitches, Kimbrel continues to be one of the top closers in today’s game.

Kimbel’s made the All-Star team six out of his eight seasons in MLB. From 2011-14 he led the NL in saves. In seven straight seasons, Kimbrel’s recorded at least 30 saves.

With his consistency in the closer’s role, it’s no surprise that the righty is close to reaching a milestone. With 291 saves under his belt, Kimbrel remains just nine saves away from joining the 300 saves club.

Not only would Kimbrel join the club, but he’ll also be the youngest to do so at either 29 or 30, depending on if he can pull off nine saves by his birthday on May 28. When Kimbrel earns his 300th save, he’ll be just the 29th closer to achieve that amount.

This more than likely won’t be the only milestone we see Kimbrel hit in his career. In fact, the all-time saves leader Mariano Rivera didn’t record his 300th save until he was 34. Kimbrel, with such a high amount of saves at a young age, could one day become the all-time saves leader.

For Kimbrel to etch his name as the all-time saves leader, he’ll need to stay consistent along with staying healthy. It’s an unrealistic possibility but it won’t be easy either. Although one thing is for sure, he’ll notch save No. 300 sometime in the near future.