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Yankees: CC Sabathia Is Three Shy of 3000-Strikeout Club

By Manny Gómez|
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 26: New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) in the dugout prior to the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on April 26, 2019 in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 26: New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) in the dugout prior to the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on April 26, 2019 in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

When the New York Yankees take on the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight, CC Sabathia will be looking to do something only 16 pitchers have ever done before.

In the history of Major League Baseball, only 16 pitchers have ever eclipsed the 3000-strikeout mark. Tonight in Arizona, New York Yankees southpaw CC Sabathia is looking to become the 17th member of the exclusive club.

The 20th pick of the 1998 June Amateur Draft, Sabathia established himself as a surefire ace immediately after making his debut in 2001. Sure, his ERA regularly touched the high 3’s and low 4’s, but his rubber arm paired with the ability to strikeout batters at will made him one of the most feared pitchers in baseball.

Every season after that, Sabathia continued to improve. He reached his apex in 2008 when upon being traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Milwaukee Brewers, he just about singlehandedly carried the Brew Crew into the postseason.

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In just 17 starts with Milwaukee that season, Sabathia completed 7 games while pitching to a 1.65 ERA and 1.003 WHIP.

The following season, CC Sabathia decided to take his talents to New York where he’d help the Yankees earn the 27th World Series title in the organization’s history. And that’s where Sabathia finds himself today, the only remaining member of the 2009 team, the last Yankee team to win the World Series.

In three starts this season, Sabathia has a stellar 2.40 ERA, 0.933 WHIP, and has struck out 11 batters in 15 IP. He enters tonight’s matchup against the D-Backs with 2,997 career strikeouts, leaving him 3-shy of the elusive 3000-strikeout club.

The feat won’t end there, however, as the Sabathia’s final season progresses, he will have an opportunity to move up the all-time strikeout leader list. Realistically, Sabathia could pass John Smoltz who has 3084-strikeouts, Curt Schilling (3116), and Bob Gibson  (3117).

Nonetheless, despite where CC Sabathia ends up on the list when all is said and done CC is a surefire member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

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