Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw; picture through Arturo Pardavila III; CC by
With each passing day in Main League Baseball, new stars are born that can depart future generations in awe. And whereas baseball is extra youth-oriented than ever earlier than, we can not overlook to have fun the legends who paved the way in which. To not say that the names about to be listed are outdated geezers by any means, however it’s onerous to have milestones to attain with out a storied and lengthy profession earlier than them. This text will show which celebrated milestones are achievable for notable lively gamers within the 2025 MLB season, and whether or not they are often attained by the point October comes round.
Clayton Kershaw: 3,000 Strikeouts
At present at 2,997 Ks
From what goals to be an entire profession with the Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw is a slam-dunk Corridor of Famer. He has a real case to be heralded as the very best Dodgers pitcher of all time in a crop that’s loaded with icons and legends. Frankly, it’s straightforward to see why whenever you check out his accomplishments in a Dodgers uniform. 9 top-10 finishes in Cy Younger voting, together with three trophies taken residence for good measure. Three top-10 finishes in MVP voting, together with a victory of his personal. A profession ERA of two.51 and WHIP of 1.013 in 18 seasons. And even regardless of his postseason struggles, Kershaw has contributed to the Dodgers’ two most up-to-date World Sequence championships in 2020 and 2024.
There are few milestones that Kershaw has but to achieve, however one that’s extremely shut is 3,000 strikeouts. After his most up-to-date begin in opposition to the Rockies, Clayton Kershaw has put himself simply three strikeouts away from vaulting himself into that unique membership. Kershaw will get his probability subsequent Tuesday in opposition to the White Sox, a group that he has a profession 2.90 ERA in opposition to however solely 31 strikeouts. With the house subject benefit in Dodger Stadium, subsequent Tuesday at 10:10 pm EDT needs to be appointment viewing for any Dodger fan.
Mike Trout: 400 House Runs
At present at 390 HRs
Some are below the idea that till some man named Shohei Ohtani confirmed up, Mike Trout was the very best pure hitter in baseball. He had a strong argument for the very best five-tool offensive menace to play the sport. With 9 20+ HR seasons, 3 100+ RBI seasons, and 11 seasons with a .280 common or above, it’s a shock that he has not received greater than his 3 MVPs. He has an opportunity so as to add to an already storied legacy, being solely ten HRs away from 400 and 17 RBI away from 1,000 for his profession.
Trout has not been the identical after his latest injury-riddled seasons. Nevertheless, he has nonetheless confirmed to be a succesful offensive menace in 2025, and, if he can keep wholesome, 400 HRs needs to be simply inside his grasp by October. If Trout continues at his present tempo, he needs to be hitting his thirtieth HR of the 2025 season round September, so count on the look ahead to quantity 400 to start round late July or early August.
Andrew McCutchen: 50 Wins Above Alternative (WAR)
At present at 49.6 WAR
The Pirates are mired in yet one more yr of painful mediocrity. Nevertheless, watching Paul Skenes develop and dominate opposing lineups has not been the one deal with for the Pirates trustworthy. A Pirates legend by and thru, Andrew McCutchen’s profession has been one in all triumph in Pittsburgh, the place he took residence an MVP in 2013 and was top-five in MVP voting yearly between 2012-2015. His degree of play post-Pittsburgh has tailed off, however he has nonetheless put up an illustrious profession offensively. 327 HRs, 1,123 RBI, 220 SBs, and a profession .827 OPS; McCutchen has completed sufficient in his profession to no less than be in Corridor of Fame discussions.
Yet one more milestone that might assist McCutchen’s case can be reaching 50 profession WAR. It could be a pleasant closing bow to a profession that’s quickly coming to a detailed. Nevertheless, as tantalizingly shut as he’s to reaching it, the state of the Pirates in 2025 and McCutchen’s deflated manufacturing at age 38 make it a coin toss if he can get there in 2025. Contemplating he has primarily operated as a DH, there may be not a lot hope for any defensive WAR. His solely hope would come from offensive manufacturing. It’s not unattainable, however would require a stretch on the plate that many doubt Cutch nonetheless has left in him. In any case, if Pirates followers have already deserted ship for the 2025 season, cheering for McCutchen ought to assist maintain them regular till the offseason.
Jose Ramirez: 300 Stolen Bases
At present at 264 SBs
Jose Ramirez has been one of the vital underrated gamers in Main League Baseball throughout his profession. With each earlier participant talked about on this article, a breakdown of the awards they received all through their profession follows. Sadly, J-Ram has by no means taken residence an MVP award. The 32-year-old has come shut, ending within the high 10 in voting seven occasions, together with a runner-up in 2020 and back-to-back top-three finishes in 2017 and 2018. Add that with a profession 268 HRs, 902 RBI, .281 common, and .858 OPS, and you’ve got your self an unheralded Corridor-of-Fame caliber participant.
What separates Ramirez from his different counterparts at third base is his unreal velocity. He has almost as many stolen bases as he does residence runs, which is unbelievable for somebody on the scorching nook. Granted, claiming that 300 stolen bases is within the realm of potentialities within the 2025 season for Ramirez is daring. Nevertheless, within the present age of bigger bases and restricted pickoff makes an attempt, paired with Ramirez stealing a career-high 41 bases final season, something is feasible. Ramirez has confirmed time and time once more that he’s unpredictable. Sure, he’s unlikely to achieve 300 swiped baggage in 2025. However it’ll solely be a matter of time earlier than he reaches that milestone and additional provides to his Corridor of Fame case.
Chris Sale 150 Wins
At present at 143 Ws
Chris Sale wants no introduction. With eight appearances inside the high 10 of Cy Younger Award voting, a profession 3.02 ERA, 1.049 WHIP, 2,528 strikeouts, and 55.8 WAR accrued as a pitcher, his resume speaks for itself. Earlier than final season, the baseball world thought that Sale was merely attempting to cling to the twilight of his profession in Atlanta. So he proved all of the doubters fallacious and is at the moment present process a renaissance seldom seen in trendy baseball. Sale captured his first-ever Cy Younger award in 2024. If the Braves had gotten off to a greater begin in 2025, he can be held in competition for this yr’s award as nicely.
It’s the weird season from the same old powerhouse Atlanta Braves that looks like the one factor in the way in which of Chris Sale and reaching 150 profession wins. Whereas wins usually are not held in wherever close to as excessive regard as they have been 30 years in the past, garnering 150 of them remains to be a neat feather within the cap of any pitcher. Sale, who’s attempting to place no matter closing touches he can on his Corridor of Fame case, will take any wins he can get. His subsequent seven begins are projected in opposition to the next opponents so as: Angels, Orioles, Cardinals, Giants, Rangers, Reds, and Marlins. None of those groups is taken into account an offensive powerhouse. A classic Sale stretch of dominance may propel him to 150 wins very quickly. Nevertheless, that will additionally require a sustained degree of success from the Braves offense not often seen in 2025. Regardless, Sale’s profession renaissance in Atlanta makes this milestone realistically achievable, and the same degree of manufacturing by subsequent season will simply vault Chris into the 150-win membership.
These legends chasing these milestones can be enjoyable races to look at, it doesn’t matter what group you cheer for. Every of those gamers seems to proceed to etch their identify within the Baseball Corridor of Fame and solidify their legacy to future gamers and followers alike.
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