Nolan Arenado is an American professional baseball third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals. Renowned for his defensive skills, he is considered one of the best third basemen ever, having won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in each of his first ten MLB seasons. Arenado debuted in MLB with the Colorado Rockies in 2013 and later joined the Cardinals via trade in 2021.
Frank Malzone won the Gold Glove Award in the American League in 1957.
In 1977, Ken Reitz, a third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, won the Player of the Month award. This was the last time a Cardinals third baseman received this honor before Arenado.
Nolan Arenado was born on April 16, 1991.
In 1996, Andrés Galarraga, playing for the Colorado Rockies, achieved the impressive feat of leading the major leagues in RBIs.
In 1997, Larry Walker, playing for the Colorado Rockies, led the National League in home runs.
In 1999, Chipper Jones set a major league record for extra base hits by a third baseman in a single season with an impressive 87.
In 2008, Nolan Arenado's high school baseball team won the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section championship.
Nolan Arenado signed with the Colorado Rockies and made his professional baseball debut with the Casper Ghosts of the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2009.
Nolan Arenado was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the second round of the 2009 MLB draft.
On July 31, 2010, Carlos González, Arenado's teammate on the Colorado Rockies, achieved the rare feat of hitting for the cycle with a walk-off home run, a testament to his exceptional hitting ability.
Nolan Arenado played for the Asheville Tourists of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2010.
While playing for the Modesto Nuts in 2011, Nolan Arenado began working harder on his defense, improving his footwork and overall defensive skills.
Nolan Arenado represented the Rockies at the 2011 All-Star Futures Game and was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Arizona Fall League.
In 2011, Nolan Arenado led the minor leagues in RBIs with 155 over 163 total games.
Nolan Arenado was named to appear in the All-Star Futures Game in 2012.
On October 29, 2013, Nolan Arenado became the first NL rookie to win a Rawlings Gold Glove Award at third base since 1957.
Nolan Arenado made his Major League Baseball debut with the Colorado Rockies in 2013.
The Colorado Rockies promoted Nolan Arenado to the major league club in 2013.
Nolan Arenado hit his first career multi-home run game on April 5, 2014, against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
As of November 2015, it was reported that Nolan Arenado switched agents, moving from Scott Boras to Joel Wolfe of Wasserman Media Group.
In 2015, Nolan Arenado continued to shine on defense, earning his third consecutive Gold Glove Award. He also received both the Fielding Bible and the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards, further solidifying his reputation as a top-tier defensive third baseman.
In 2015, Nolan Arenado earned a salary of $512,000 while playing for the Colorado Rockies.
In 2015, Nolan Arenado had a remarkable season, tying for the NL home run title with 42 home runs and leading the league with 130 RBIs. His exceptional performance earned him his first Silver Slugger Award.
Nolan Arenado was selected as a National League reserve for the MLB All-Star game in 2015.
Nolan Arenado's impressive RBI performance in 2016 saw him nearly double his vote count for the NL MVP Award compared to the previous year, 2015, indicating significant growth and recognition.
Since the start of the 2015 season, Nolan Arenado leads all major leaguers in RBIs.
On January 15, 2016, Nolan Arenado and the Colorado Rockies reached an agreement on a one-year, $5 million contract, avoiding salary arbitration.
In 2016, legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully autographed the bat used by Nolan Arenado for his 40th home run, a treasured memento from Scully's final season.
Nolan Arenado became the youngest player in Colorado Rockies franchise history to reach 100 home runs in 2016.
In 2016, Nolan Arenado etched his name in MLB history by becoming the first third baseman to win four Gold Gloves in his first four seasons. This remarkable accomplishment showcased his exceptional defensive skills.
On January 13, 2017, Nolan Arenado and the Colorado Rockies agreed to a two-year, $29.5 million contract extension, avoiding arbitration for a second consecutive year.
In January 2017, Nolan Arenado's dedication to his craft was evident when he requested to take ground balls during an offseason visit from then-Rockies manager Bud Black, showcasing his commitment to constant improvement.
On March 22, 2017, Nolan Arenado was part of the United States national baseball team that won the World Baseball Classic for the first time, defeating Puerto Rico.
Nolan Arenado hit for the cycle for the first time on June 18, 2017.
In 2017, Nolan Arenado reached an impressive milestone by becoming the first major leaguer to record 100 RBIs for the third consecutive year. This achievement showcased his consistency and run-producing abilities.
Nolan Arenado was part of the United States national team that won the gold medal in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
As part of his two-year contract extension signed in 2017, Nolan Arenado earned a salary of $17,750,000 during the 2018 season.
Before the start of the 2018 season, Sports Illustrated recognized Nolan Arenado as a top player, ranking him eighth overall and acknowledging him as the "best defensive infielder in baseball." This accolade highlighted his exceptional skills and impact on the field.
In 2018, Nolan Arenado was selected for his second consecutive MLB All-Star Game, marking his fourth overall selection. He continued to excel, winning his sixth straight Gold Glove, fourth consecutive Silver Slugger, and second consecutive Rawlings Platinum Glove Award, solidifying his status as one of the best in the league.
On February 26, 2019, Nolan Arenado committed to the Colorado Rockies by signing an eight-year, $260 million contract extension, securing his future with the team.
Nolan Arenado married his high school sweetheart, Laura Kwan, in December 2019.
In 2019, Nolan Arenado had a career-best season, setting new personal records in batting average, OBP, fielding percentage, fWAR, bWAR, and OPS. He also won his seventh consecutive Gold Glove Award and third straight Platinum Glove Award.
In 2020, Nolan Arenado expressed dissatisfaction with the Colorado Rockies and requested a trade, citing disrespect from the organization. Despite his trade request, he remained with the Rockies for the season.
On February 1, 2021, Nolan Arenado was traded from the Colorado Rockies to the St. Louis Cardinals.
In 2021, Nolan Arenado had a strong first season with the St. Louis Cardinals, earning his ninth consecutive Gold Glove Award at third base. He also participated in the All-Star Game held in Denver.
Nolan Arenado was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals before the 2021 season.
On April 27, 2022, Nolan Arenado was involved in a bench-clearing brawl during a game against the New York Mets. The incident resulted in a two-game suspension, which was later reduced to one game.
On July 1, 2022, Nolan Arenado hit for the cycle for the second time in his career, finishing it off with a walk-off home run.
On July 2, 2022, Nolan Arenado achieved two remarkable feats. He hit for his second career cycle in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The following day, in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, he hit the first of four consecutive home runs by the Cardinals, marking the 11th such occurrence in Major League Baseball history.
Nolan Arenado and his wife, Laura Kwan, welcomed their first child, a daughter, in August 2022.
On October 29, 2022, Nolan Arenado decided to exercise his contract option, committing to stay with the St. Louis Cardinals through the 2027 season.
In 2022, Nolan Arenado continued his defensive dominance, earning his tenth consecutive Gold Glove Award. He also received a nomination for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.
On April 8, 2023, Nolan Arenado hit his 300th career home run in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Nolan Arenado participated in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Nolan Arenado's contract extension ensures his presence with the St. Louis Cardinals until 2027.