MLB players approaching milestones in 2026

Nobody is getting to 500 home runs this season unless Giancarlo Stanton really turns back the clock. In truth, even Goldschmidt would have to turn the clock back a bit to get to 400 home runs, as he would need to approach 30 to make that happen. However, there is a good chance he will reach 500 doubles. That’s not as eye-catching, but it would help his already strong Hall of Fame case.

Machado started the 2026 season a few homers behind Goldschmidt, but he’s five years younger, so there’s probably a better chance he gets to 400 home runs before the season ends. The Padre will also get to 400 doubles, and while 1,200 RBI is not the most compelling of round numbers, only two active players have done it (though a few more may join Machado in hitting that number).

Judge started 2026 one homer behind Machado, but he’s one of the three most likely to clear 30 homers this season. After all, in three of the last four seasons, he’s gotten over 50 home runs, much less 30. The Yankees star could join the four-timers club if he wins another MVP, but in terms of round numbers, 1,000 runs scored is definitely in the mix.

Freeman led the pack in terms of career hits heading into this season, and he will get to over 2,500 hits. That’s presuming health, of course, but let’s just say “presuming health” is taken as read across all of these. Freeman, though, could also get to 2,600 hits by the end of the campaign, and he’s the only one in the running for that. The Dodger is going to be in the top 100 in career hits by the end of the season, and he’s going to get over 1,400 RBI and 1,400 runs scored as well.

Harper won’t get to 400 home runs this year, given that he has only had over 35 home runs in a season once, but he’s in his age-33 season in 2026, so there’s no need to fret on that front. He also just got over 400 doubles and 150 stolen bases, so it will be a while until he approaches any thresholds on that front. Harper, who has lived up to the hype even if he isn’t an all-time great, will get to 1,900 hits, 1,200 runs scored, and 1,100 RBI, though.

This is Ohtani’s ninth season in MLB, so do bear that in mind. He’s going to get to 300 home runs, 200 doubles, 50 triples, and possibly even 200 stolen bases. Those aren’t gaudy numbers, but we’re talking about Ohtani, so every time he crosses any sort of milestone threshold it is going to feel notable. He’s already one of two players with four or more MVPs, and he’s looking to become the second player after Barry Bonds to get to five MVPs as well.

Ramirez is a future Hall of Famer who has been quietly producing incredible numbers for Cleveland. He’s long been a 20/20 or 30/30 guy, and as such, it feels fitting he will get to both 300 homers and 300 stolen bases this season. Ramirez will also reach 1,000 RBI, and going from three digits to four always impresses.

Betts is coming off a down year, though it still ended with another ring with the Dodgers. Fortunately for the future Hall of Famer (though it stands to reason many of these players are future Hall of Famers), a few milestones are within easy grasp. Betts will hit 300 homers, 400 doubles, and 200 stolen bases. The question is whether or not he, like Ramirez, gets to 1,000 RBI.

It’s worth checking in with Soto, given that he’s only 27 and has already accomplished so much. He’d really have to pick it up to get to 300 homers, but he’ll get to 200 stolen bases. Also, if Soto is so inclined, he’ll get to 20 triples. Soto will get to 800 RBI if he gets to 100 this season, and since the Mets are so acclaimed for his batting eye, we’ll note that he should get to 1,000 career walks.

Arenado has cooled down considerably from his heyday, much of which was spent with the Rockies and hitting at Coors Field, but he’s primed to cross a notable milestone. The newly minted Diamondback should have no problem getting over 2,000 hits. That, combined with his 10 Gold Gloves, might ensure his spot in the Hall of Fame.

There’s really only one notable number for Altuve to hit, given that he’ll get over 900 RBI but won’t quite reach 1,000. However, Altuve, like Freeman, is going to get to 2,500 hits. As the second baseman gets older and as his career winds down, a couple of seasons of hitting for a high average would also benefit him. Altuve has a career .303 average, and retiring a .300 hitter would be noteworthy.

Turner will probably get to 200 home runs, which isn’t bad for a shortstop. However, it’s the work Turner does on the base paths that stands out. He’ll probably get to 200 doubles and to 50 triples. Only three active players started the 2026 season with 50 triples.

Onto some pitching milestones! Behind the two icons of this generation, now in their forties (both of whom will appear later), there’s Sale. Pitcher health is trickier to trust in, and Sale doesn’t have a perfect track record. However, he should get to 2,700 strikeouts and possibly 2,800. Sale will also get to 150 wins, which wouldn’t have been notable in the 1960s, but only three active pitchers have done that, and Sale is the only one with a chance in 2026.

Though deGrom made his MLB debut late and has dealt with injury issues, if he can stay on the mound, he’ll hit two significant milestones. One is 100 wins, and the other is 2,000 strikeouts. Combined with his two Cy Young trophies, those milestones might help get deGrom over the hump into the Hall of Fame.

Fried won the first game of the 2026 season, and he led MLB with 19 wins in 2025. He’ll get to 100 career wins, and he’s the second-best pitcher behind deGrom who might do it. At 32, he’s the youngest pitcher in the 84-to-96-win realm, and with guys like Eduardo Rodriguez and Martin Perez, there are good odds they aren’t good enough on the mound to earn the wins they need to hit triple digits.

Only two pitchers in MLB history have gotten to 500 saves. Oddly, they are both over 600 as well, and you know they are Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera. Well, Jansen signed with the Tigers this past offseason to be their closer. With even a decent season’s worth of saves, he will become the third MLB pitcher to get to 500.

The 400 Saves Club is also rarified air. Only eight pitchers have done that. Chapman would have to pick up a hair over 30 saves in order to join that group. However, the Cuban closer did have 32 saves in 2025, and if he does that again, he’ll effectively be there.

Scherzer is one of the generational pitchers we mentioned earlier. He made 17 starts for the Blue Jays in his age-40 campaign, though he did have a 5.19 ERA. That being said, it should only take Scherzer a couple of starts to get to 3,500 strikeouts, and a couple more after that, and he should be able to pass Walter Johnson and enter the top 10 in career strikeouts.

You may not think of Gausman as a top-level pitcher. He’s finished in the top five in Cy Young voting only once, and he’s only been an all-star twice. One thing he’s been able to do, though, is rack up strikeouts. In his age-35 season, Gausman will hit 2,000 strikeouts, and he likely will get to 2,100, even if that doesn’t have the same ring. Now, he’s not going to the Hall of Fame as deGrom might, but that’s still impressive.

Gray started 2026 just behind Gausman in career strikeouts, which is to say he’ll get to 2,000 strikeouts as well. However, Gray also started the season with 125 wins, fifth-most among active pitchers. As such, he should get to 130 and could reach 140. These days, those are notable milestones for a pitcher, though the 2,000 strikeouts do pop a bit more.

We end with Verlander, who is closing out his Hall of Fame career with a return to the Tigers. He’s not going to hit any significant milestones, but as he caps his career and builds his resume for the best pitcher of his generation, everything counts. Verlander will reach 270 wins, which practically makes him a Cy Young Award winner by modern standards. He’ll also get to 3,600 strikeouts, and there’s a non-zero chance he gets to 3,700. Bert Blyleven is fifth in career strikeouts with 3,701. That means Verlander can possibly retire with the top five in career strikeouts.