MLB Milestone Tracker: Five things to watch for in 2020
The 2020 season will feature several accomplishments you don’t want to miss. Here are 5 MLB milestones players can accomplish in 2020.
As the major league offseason now begins, expectations are already being set for the 2020 season. Projections for players’ statistics are already out and being speculated.
There were many breakout seasons in 2019 and next season those players have the opportunity to impress again and legitimize their legacy in the major leagues.
Certain veteran players have the chance to continue adding to their resumes, winning accolades, and adding more statistics to their reputation. Players that are borderline for Hall of Fame, or trying to build a case, have the opportunity to keep making their cases.
One thing that is on the whole baseball community’s radar is possible milestones that could be reached next year.
In 2019, no beyond historic milestones, like 500 home runs, 3,000 hits, or 300 wins, occurred. However, certain veterans did surpass certain marks.
Justin Verlander struck out his 3,000th batter. Zack Greinke won his 200th game. Albert Pujols drove in his 2,000th run.
Kenley Jansen saved his 300th game. Robinson Cano recorded his 2,500th career hit. Edwin Encarnacion and Nelson Cruz both crushed their 400th career home run this season.
These were a few of the milestones that were reached by players last season. Here are five MLB milestones to watch for in the 2020 season.
Five MLB Milestones to watch for in 2020
Albert Pujols- 661 Home Runs
Albert Pujols is heading into his 20th major league season, in his ninth year of his 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He will be turning 40 in January.
As the 2020 season approaches, Pujols is sixth all-time in the home run category with 656.
He is only five home runs shy of surpassing Willie Mays’ 660 home runs and moving up to fifth-most home runs of all time.
Pujols is already a lock for the Hall of Fame, but this will further enhance his legacy. He is not just one of the best power hitters or first baseman of all time, but he is one of the best hitters to ever play the game.
Pujols has seven seasons of at least 40 home runs and 14 seasons of at least 30 home runs. During his 11 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, he has placed top five on the NL MVP ballot 10 times.
The Dominican native has won three NL MVPs, six Silver Slugger awards, two Gold Gloves, and has won two World Series. He just continues to add to his elite legacy and Hall of Fame resume.
Early on in the 2020 season, Pujols is going to hit his fifth home run of the season, his 661st career home run, and will become the player with the fifth-most home runs of all time.
Five MLB Milestones to watch for in 2020
Aroldis Chapman – 300 saves
If Aroldis Chapman stays healthy in 2020, he will record his 300th save.
In 2019, Chapman saved 37 games for the New York Yankees, ending the season with 273 career saves.
Only 30 pitchers have ever saved at least 300 games. He currently ranks 34th all-time and can easily make his way around 28th all-time by the end of the season, pending that he saves at least 30 games.
The six-time All-Star is going to be 32 at the beginning of next season. He has plenty of seasons left to continue closing games and adding more and more saves to his resume.
If his prime, health, and dominance continued for a few more seasons, Chapman will make a strong case for the Hall of Fame. Not many closers make it to Cooperstown but having a World Series ring and this many saves will certainly help his case.
It is only going to take Chapman 11 seasons to reach the 300 career saves mark, which is beyond impressive. Craig Kimbrell was the only pitcher to reach the 300 saves mark before 31. Francisco Rodriguez was also 21 when he recorded his 300th save.
Chapman needs 27 saves to reach 300, which will probably take him until July or August.
Five MLB Milestones to watch for in 2020
Justin Verlander- 3,000 Innings Pitched
In 2019, Justin Verlander registered his 3,000th career strikeout.
In 2020, he will surpass the 3,000 innings pitched mark. He is 18 innings shy of the milestone, so he will have a good chance of reaching it in his first three starts.
If Verlander remains healthy and reaches at least 200 innings like he normally does, he will move up from 139th on the all-time innings pitched list to 112th.
The eight-time All-Star is heading into his 16th major league season.
Through 15 seasons, Verlander has 225 wins, a 3.33 ERA, and 3,006 career strikeouts. Including 2019, Verlander has won the Cy Young award once, in 2011, and has placed in the top five eight different times. He also won the AL MVP in 2011.
Verlander reached 300 strikeouts on the season, the first time he has done that in his career.
Verlander has a very strong case for Cooperstown and he is continuing to make one, as he has resurrected his prime in Houston.
Since he was traded to Houston during the 2017 season, Verlander had a 2.45 ERA, a 42-15 record over 73 starts.
Verlander will be turning 37 before the start of the 2020 season. If he continues to age as kindly as he has, he will be adding to his Hall of Fame resume for a few more seasons.
Five MLB Milestones to watch for in 2020
Jon Lester- 200 Wins
This is an interesting milestone to keep an eye on. Zack Greinke surpassed the 200-win threshold this season and Jon Lester is going to be the next pitcher to do so.
Lester went 13-10 for the Chicago Cubs this season, making his all-time win total 190. Lester should definitely surpass that mark in 2020 since he has won at least 10 games every season since 2013.
Now that CC Sabathia has retired, Lester has the third most wins amongst active pitchers, only Greinke and Verlander have more.
As he heads into his 15th season, Lester’s Hall of Fame chances are a bit slimmer than other active pitchers ahead of him on the wins list. His career ERA is 3.56, which is a little high for Cooperstown. He has finished top five on three Cy Young ballots but has never won the award.
However, the lefty has won three World Series, has been an above-average starter for a long time, and will certainly have a better case with 200 wins.
The five-time All-Star is going to be 36 at the beginning of next season. He is coming off a poor season but is looking to rebound in 2020. If he wins at least 10 games, he will climb up to 116th on the all-time wins list.
Five MLB Milestones to watch for in 2020
Yadier Molina- 2,000 Hits
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The 2,000-hit threshold has had more value lately than in the past because of how rare 3,000 hits has become.
Yadier Molina is not going to be the only player to surpass 2,000 hits this season. Ian Kinsler, Melky Cabrera, Adam Jones, and Ryan Braun are all likely to reach the mark as well. However, he has the best chance to make it to the Hall of Fame out of all of these players and he is a catcher.
Only seven catchers have ever hit 2,000 hits. Molina is 37 hits shy of becoming the eighth. As he heads into his 17th season, the Cardinals’ catcher can continue to add to his stacked resume.
He is a nine-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glove recipient, a Silver Slugger, and a two-time World Series champion.
Molina has only been top five on two MVP ballots but is still an all-time great catcher and a future Hall of Famer because of his elite defense and his longevity as an elite catcher. He has been one of the best catchers in the league for such a long time.
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He will turn 38 during the 2020 season, which will apparently be his last, as he announced prior to this season that his current contract will be his last.