There are many milestones and awards a baseball player can reach during their career. Some come with recognition ala the MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year etc. However, there are a few milestones that you do not get to physically hold a piece of metal or whatever they make it out of to show your accomplishment. One of the more rare feats a major league baseball player can reach, but is not highly publicized, is the 20-20-20-20 club. Most likely you probably have never heard of this because it is such a rare feat for a player to achieve. From 1933, there has been only 10 total offensive triple crown winners in baseball just to put it in perspective. There happens to be a couple of players with that potential playing right now and could be on their way to joining the only other four players in history of major league baseball  to ever do so.

First, let’s talk about the guys that are already in that club.

1. Frank Schulte– 30 doubles, 21 triples, 21 home runs, 23 steals (won MVP in 1911)
2. Willie Mays– 26 doubles, 20 triples, 35 home runs, 38 steals (somehow didn’t win MVP)
3. Jimmie Rollins– 38 doubles, 20 triples, 30 home runs, 41 steals (won MVP in 2007)
4. Curtis Granderson- 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 home runs, 26 steals (10th in MVP voting)

Pretty decent club right there with a hall of famer and a man I didn’t even know walked the earth at some point. I’ll take it and congratulate them on their accomplishments and try and be humble enough to not talk about my rookie softball season where I did 40/40. Whoops.

Fast forward to the present and there is not one but TWO studs, who happen to be on the same damn team non the less, who are both projected to maybe join the exclusive club. If for some god forsaken reason they don’t they will at least come extremely close. I’ll give you a hint, the team they play for is not that great and they’re in the American League Central. Still don’t know? One leads the league in stolen bases and both are tied for first with six triples so far.

First I would like to discuss the beast himself, Mr. I signed a $16.25 million contract in the off-season, introducing, Whit Merrifield. Now, I have written about him before so maybe this is annoying but you have got to respect the hustle and give credit when it is due. With us just past the quarter mark of the season for most teams, Merrifield right now is sitting on 10 doubles, six triples, six home runs, and seven steals. Merrifield hits first or second every game for the lowly Royals meaning a lot more opportunity to snag an extra at bat and that extra at bat could equal out to that 20th triple needed or that 20th home run. Either way, Merrifield is projected right now to finish with 40 doubles, 24 triples, 24 home runs and 28 steals. The man can do it. He has showed us the past two season he is not a slouch and will continue to produce and be one of the more underrated players the game to offer today.

Next we have a man who had a monster second half last season and has shown that he also is not a fluke. Introducing, Adalberto Mondesi. Mondesi only played in 75 games last year and showed that he took massive strides in almost every faucet of his game. Stealing 35 bags, hitting 14 home runs and 13 doubles as well. That is not even half a season and if he played a full season with those projected stats would have been a hell of a full year. So far this year, Mondesi sits at 10 doubles, six triples, five home runs, and 15 steals. The stolen base department is a given so really the sketchiest stat for him would be the home run department. With those stats Mondesi is projected to end with 40 doubles, 24 triples, 20 home runs, and 60 steals. Obviously he might need to go on a home run binge to keep himself in the running, but he showed last year he is more than capable of balling out for a week or two and collecting some home runs in the mix.

I know I could be jumping the gun with this as there is still 120 games or so left to play and A LOT can happen between now and then. Since I’m writing this I really hope I didn’t jinx my boys but I got faith. Both of these players are having outstanding years so far and with their track records, both might not slow down. Even with some regression, both should be headed to the All-Star game this year come July. If not, it’ll be a fucking crock. I have faith in the fans and players to rightfully vote them in. For now, let’s just hope both players continue to produce at the level they’re capable of maybe we will be able to see a little history this season.