Washington Nationals: Hiatus could keep Starlin Castro from 3000 hits

Washington Nationals infielder Starlin Castro has a decent chance at reaching the 3000 hit plateau. However, the current hiatus could keep him from reaching that historic benchmark.

Over his career, Starlin Castro has been a steady, albeit somewhat unspectacular, player. A member of the Cubs, Yankees, and Marlins, he has been a four time All Star, but only received MVP votes once, doing so in 2011. That year, he led the National League with 207 hits and 674 at bats as a 21 year old, and appeared on the cusp of stardom.

While Castro never reached those heights again, he has been a steady hitter. Even in his down seasons with the Marlins, Castro still collected hits while showing a bit of pop, leading the Washington Nationals to sign him to a two year deal, presumably replacing Anthony Rendon at third.

Over his decade in the majors, those hits have continued to add up. At this point, he has collected 1617 hits during his 20s, an impressive number, and one that currently ranks 22nd amongst active players. Should he continue to play at a solid level for another decade and avoid injury, it is possible that Castro could find himself chasing down the 3000 hit plateau.

However, there is a major problem with that projection. With the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing, Major League Baseball has postponed the season. While there have been plenty of discussions and rumors surrounding when games will begin again, there does not appear to be an end in sight to that delay.

Castro, who turned 30 in March, is still in the midst of his hypothetical prime. Even though he appeared lost at the plate throughout much of the first half of 2019, he turned his season around, putting together the type of season one would have expected. Yet, he needs to play in order to continue to rack up the hits, making this delay a major setback to his quest.

With the exception of the PED players – Rafael Palmeiro and Alex Rodriguez – the 3000 hit club is a ticket to immortality. Every eligible player, excluding Palmeiro, to reach that benchmark has been enshrined in Cooperstown. While Castro may not be considered a future Hall of Fame player, his march to 3000 hits would warrant discussion as his career continues.

But the games have to be played first. For Washington Nationals infielder Starlin Castro, this delay could cost him his chance at immortality.