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Felix Hernandez is having himself a typical King Felix season, and that’s allowed him to reach a career milestone fairly early in 2015. Hernandez notched his 2,000th career strikeout on Sunday against the Athletics -- and outfielder Sam Fuld, specifically -- to become the fourth-youngest player to ever reach that threshold. Hall of Fame starters Bert Blyleven and Walter Johnson, as well as Sam McDowell, are the only three to manage the feat faster.
Hernandez ranks sixth among active starters with his 2,001 strikeouts, behind CC Sabathia (2,466), A.J. Burnett (2,401), Bartolo Colon (2,141), Tim Hudson (2,035) and Jake Peavy (2,034). Hernandez should move further up that list this year, given Hudson strikes hitters out at less than half the pace of Felix these days, and Peavy is dealing with a back injury that has limited him to 7⅔ innings on the season. It’s also worth pointing out that Sabathia is 34, Burnett 38, Colon 42, Hudson 39 and Peavy is turning 34 later this month: Hernandez turned 29 just over a month ago.
In baseball’s long history, 8,406 different pitchers have managed to strike out at least one batter. Just 68 of those pitchers struck out 2,000 batters, and only 16 have punched out 3,000. Hernandez is a long way off from sitting down 3,000 by way of the K -- just another 999 to go! -- but at his age, it’s a possibility even if he stops striking out over a batter per inning. As long as Hernandez stays healthy, he’s just going to keep pushing up this list of all-time strikeout greats.
- Speaking of milestones, let’s try to figure out what Alex Rodriguez would need to do in order to realistically hit 763 homers.
- The Red Sox rotation has been awful, but there are plenty of reasons to hope things will be better from here on out. Those reasons do not necessarily include Joe Kelly.
- Jarrod Parker was working his way back from his second Tommy John surgery, but the A’s pitcher suffered a fractured elbow during a rehab appearance. The video is not pleasant to watch.
- Tim Lincecum has been effective for the Giants in 2015, so let’s see what’s different from the struggling Timmy of the past few years and this one.
- The Yankees have a whole lot of injured starters who will eventually be coming back. What should they do with the rotation when that happens?
- The Cardinals haven’t played Matt Carpenter since May 6, as their slugger is dealing with dehydration and dizziness, among other health concerns.
- Josh Hamilton, now with the Rangers, went 1-for-3 during a rehab appearance for the Round Rock Express.
- How did this foul ball wind up fair? Physics, sure, but how was it even hit in a way where that could happen?
- Baseball America has released their first of what will be many mocks leading into the 2015 MLB draft. Baseball Prospectus got in on the fun as well. Consider this the start of a month-long draft analysis marathon.
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