This Week In Baseball – Albert Pujols’ 3000 Hits, Corey Seager Out, Ichiro Retires, Braves Surging, Jung Ho Kang Returns
Mr. 3000…
On Friday night against the Seattle Mariners, Albert Pujols become the 32nd member of MLB’s 3,000-hit club. Even more impressive is that he’s just the fourth player in MLB history with 3,000 hits and 600 home runs. Though that shouldn’t be surprising – we’ve all had times when we had to run home because of our pooholes.
Domo Arigato, Mr. Ichiro…
Ichiro Suzuki insists that he’s not retiring from baseball and he’s not done playing. But he will transition to the front office and finish this season as a special assistant adviser with the Mariners – without shutting the door on a potential return to the playing field in 2019. It would be understandably difficult for the 44-year-old icon to walk away from the game after 27 seasons in Japan and the Major Leagues. In other words: he’s retiring.
Shortstop Stopped Short…
A disappointing season just went from bad to worse for the Los Angeles Dodgers. All-Star shortstop Corey Seager, who battled an elbow injury last year and was off to a slow start in 2018, will need season-ending Tommy John surgery. Seager was an important part of the team’s offensive attack and joins the growing list of injured Dodgers this season. The Dodgers plan to replace him with the versatile Chris Taylor. They will also protect all remaining players with bubble wrap.
On the Warpath…
With a 7-0 whitewashing of the New York Mets on Wednesday, the surging Atlanta Braves supplanted the Mets to take over first place in the National League East. It’s been a long time since the Atlanta Braves have been atop the division. They have been going through an extensive rebuild that they hoped would coincide with the opening of their new stadium. The team plans to commemorate being in first place by building another stadium.
Coming to America…
Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang has finally received a work visa and is expected to resume his career with the team. Kang failed to get a visa for quite some time after being convicted in his native South Korea of multiple DUIs. The U.S. government was adamant: You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.
Get these weekly stories in the comfort of your own inbox by signing up for our newsletter The Box Score.
