MLB, in general, becomes more athletic every year.
Players are more physically able to achieve more.
This, however, doesn’t necessarily translate into more stolen base attempts.
In any case, it’s common to see even the most feared sluggers have the green light at least a couple of times on the basepaths.
Not Eloy Jimenez, though.
The Chicago White Sox slugger just doesn’t steal bases.
He doesn’t even try.
And you know what?
That’s completely fine: if he doesn’t feel he has a high chance of reaching second (or third) safely after a stolen base, then he shouldn’t risk being thrown out.
Add his constant injury issues and physical ailments and it’s a no-brainer for him.
His refusal to attempt stolen bases does have him as the owner of a record, though.
“Eloy Jiménez turns 26 today. He currently has the most home runs in MLB history (71) among players with 0 career stolen base attempts,” White Sox insider Christopher Kamka tweeted.
Eloy Jiménez turns 26 today. He currently has the most home runs in MLB history (71) among players with 0 career stolen base attempts. pic.twitter.com/dQnFbYBoiq
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) November 27, 2022
Mashing Is All He Cares About
Jimenez made his MLB debut in 2019 with 31 home runs.
He was also excellent in 2020 with a .891 OPS, and while he has lost time with injuries in 2021 and 2022, he always reminds us he is a feared middle-of-the-order producer.
He played just 84 games this past campaign, but he managed to hit 16 round-trippers with a rock-solid .295/.358/.500 line.
Jimenez’s game is not about stealing bases: it’s about hitting the ball hard and in the air to earn the desired results.
And he does that to perfection, which is all the White Sox and their fans should be worried about.
It doesn’t matter if Jimenez retires at 40 with zero stolen base attempts: as long as he can keep mashing, it won’t matter.
