Baseball is a game that champions numbers and statistics. Players chasing important milestones can energize themselves, their team and of course the fans. Listed below are likely milestones to be achieved by Red Sox players during the 2019 season.
Potential Red Sox Batting Milestones in 2019
1,000 Hits: J.D. Martinez
Martinez needs only seven more hits and will easily reach this milestone less than a week after opening day. The Red Sox start off playing eleven games in a row, I believe Martinez will hit the mark in his fifth game, the first of the series in Oakland.
Much farther away is fellow Red Sox Mitch Moreland needing 143. 143 puts Moreland on track for 1,000 in fairly early into the 2020 season.
Historically, members of the Boston Red Sox are successful hitters. Hall of Famers Tris Speaker and Carl Yastrzemski are both in the all-time top ten. Speaker sits at fifth with 3,514 and Yastrzemski at ninth with 3,419. More recently, Wade Boggs is on the list at 30th with 3,010.
The only active players in the top 50 are Ichiro Suzuki and Albert Pujols positioned at 23rd and 24th with 3,089 and 3,082 hits respectively.
Prediction: 4/3 at Oakland
1,000 Total Bases: Steve Pearce, Jackie Bradley Jr.
Both Sox are likely to reach this milestone this season. Pearce needs 31 while Bradley is an even 100 away. Pearce is very tricky to predict due to the fact that he platoons instead of being a starting player. I will give Pearce an optimistic prediction, reaching 1,000 bases by the end of April. Bradley is in a similar position during inter-league play when Martinez breaks up the killer B outfield. My prediction is that Bradley will reach this milestone by the All-Star Break.
Another category with Yaz in the top ten, many other Red Sox can also found atop the list. Red Sox alumni such as Tris Speaker (again) at 18th, Ted Williams at 24th, and the much more recent Manny Ramirez at 29th and David Ortiz at 31st.
There are two current players in the top 50 career total bases. They are Albert Pujols at ninth with 5,656 and Miguel Cabrera at 42nd with 4,661.
Prediction: Pearce – 4/30 vs Oakland, Bradley – 7/7 at Detroit
400 Doubles: Dustin Pedroia
With Pedroia likely to see a substantial amount of action this season Baseball Reference predicts he will play half the season and record 11 doubles. Pedroia is only six away from the milestone at 394 doubles. Like Bradley’s total bases benchmark, Pedroia can reach his milestone before the All-Star Break.
Currently, the 394 doubles is good enough to put him among the top 200 all-time and at an exact tie with former Red Sox Mike Lowell and Luis Aparicio. Upon reaching this milestone Pedroia will leapfrog Hall of Famers Kiki Cuyler, Gabby Hartnett and Chuck Klein as well as secure his sole possession of position 187th all-time.
The all-time career leader for doubles is a familiar name, Tris Speaker. Among the top of the list are again many of the same Red Sox; Yaz at 8th, Ortiz at 12th, Boggs at 23rd and Ramirez at 33rd.
There are eight active players on the list ahead of Pedroia. Albert Pujols at 10th, Miguel Cabrera at 30th, Robinson Cano at 41st, Nick Markakis at 87th, Matt Holiday at 91st, Adrian Gonzalez at 129th, Victor Martinez at 151st and Ian Kinsler at 180th.
Prediction: 7/7 at Detroit
Last Word
Barring injuries the Boston Red Sox look poised for another very successful season. Martinez is ready to open his season by surpassing 1,000 hits. Following that Pearce should have the opportunity to reach 1,000 total bases. By the All-Star Break JBJ could join Pearce at that milestone. As well, by that time a healthy Pedroia could further climb the career doubles list, by reaching 400 two-baggers.
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