Several shortstops are currently among MLB’s best hitters.
That is relatively new, however: for years, it wasn’t viewed as a position particularly associated with great hitters.
Only Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Miguel Tejada, and a few others used to accumulate top-notch hitting stats for a while before Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and others broke into the scene.
One of those hitting stars currently dominating the league from the shortstop position is the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Trea Turner.
The soon-to-be free agent can do it all with a bat in his hands: he can hit for average and power, he can work a walk, drag a perfectly-placed bunt, he can field his position adequately, and he can run like the wind.
Oh, and he can score runs like few others.
This season, partly because the Dodgers are now using him near the middle of the lineup, he has added another dimension to his game: he is now driving in runs.
A Cool Milestone For Turner
As a consequence, he is very close to a cool milestone: 100 runs and 100 RBI.
“Dave Roberts again tonight brought up a potential milestone for Trea Turner: 100 R and 100 RBI. He’s at 80 R, 85 RBI after tonight,” Dodgers insider Fabian Ardaya tweeted.
Dave Roberts again tonight brought up a potential milestone for Trea Turner: 100 R and 100 RBI.
He's at 80 R, 85 RBI after tonight.
The shortstops to do so since 2000: https://t.co/itn9LAdNGP pic.twitter.com/lKg70VtYnf
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 25, 2022
He posted his tweet with a list of players attached: the shortstops to score and drive in at least 100 runs since 2000.
There are 13 such seasons, but just six names: Bo Bichette, Miguel Tejada, Nomar Garciaparra, Alex Rodriguez, Xander Bogaerts, and Hanley Ramirez.
Only Bichette and Bogaerts are currently active.
The great Garciaparra was affected by injuries, but was an impressive producer at his peak.
The same can be said about Tejada and Ramirez, not to mention the Hall-of-Fame caliber A-Rod had.
If he keeps up his current pace Turner has a good shot at being the seventh name on that list.
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