In this article, check out the top 5 players who have played most matches in MLB history.
Ken Griffey
In the 1987 Major League Baseball draft, the Seattle Mariners selected Ken Griffey out of Archbishop Moeller High School (Cincinnati, OH). Seattle Mariners, Ken Griffey, belts the 300th home run of his career. He becomes the second youngest player to reach the milestone.
Griffey quickly rose through the system and became the face of the franchise. “The Kid” finished his career these numbers:
Battling average: 284
Hits: 2,781
Home runs: 630
Griffey was a 13 time all star, AL MVP (1997), 10 time Gold Glover, 7 times Silver Slugger, 4 time AL Home Run Leader, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Fernando Tatis Jr
When the first all MLB team was introduced in the 2019 season, the selection of players gained attraction for having different features from the already traditional All Star Game, choosing athletes after the end of the season, without separating them by the American League and National League.. The San Diego Padres also stood out with Fernando Tatis Jr among the best.
It was discussed that Fernando Tatis would be the cover of MLB The Show 2021 USA Game. Tatis made history by becoming the youngest player to be honoured at 22 years of age since the game began in 2006.
Tatis, 22 years old, won a Silver Bat in 2020, a season in which he finished fourth in the National League MVP voting. The face of the San Diego franchise has agreed to a 14 year contract extension worth $340 million, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com The Padres have not confirmed the landmark agreement, which would be the third largest extension in history in terms of total money referred and the longest in terms of additional years on the player`s contract.
The Native of San Pedro de Marcoris and son of former major league player Fernando Tatis, Tatis Jr, became one of the big stories of 2020 by following his big rookie season in 2019.
Shohei Ohtani
In 1961 the Los Angeles Angels became the third California team when MLB expanded from 16 to 18 teams. Prior to that, the Los Angeles Angels name was used for more than 50 years by the Pacific Coast League`s Los Angeles Angels franchise.
In 2002 the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Giants in the World Series, and have won the American League West division title nine times. Former Los Angeles Angels in the Baseball Hall of Fame include Vladimir Guerrero, Nolan Ryan and Rod Carew.
Many observers expect current players Albert Pujols and Mike Trout tp join them in the future, while pitcher Shohei Ohtani has made an impressive debut in 2018.
The Los Angeles Angels and right handed pitcher designed hitter Shohei has agreed to a two year $8.5 million contract extension. This new deal covers his first two arbitration years, and he remains under club control through 2023. The 26 year old struggled at the plate during the 2020 season and only pitched in 2 games.
Monte Irvin
Monte had his best season in 1951 when he led the league in runs batted in with 121, batted 312 and had a sensational World Series during which he hit like wildfire and climaxed his thrilling play with a steal of home.
Monte began in organized baseball with Jersey City in 1949. He also appeared in 36 games for the Giants that year. He began 1950 with the Little Giants, then joined the big leaguers for the season, batting an even 300.
Monte Irvin became the fist African American player along with hurler Ford Smith, to sign with the Giants. Although the 29 years old outfielder will play only five full seasons in the major leagues, the former Newark Eagles standout will be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973, primarily for his outstanding play in the Negro Leagues with the Newark Eagles.
Monte was a versatile out fielder and slugger who played with the Newark Eagles (1938 – 1942, 1946 -1948), New York Giants (1949 – 1955) and Chicago Cubs (1956).
Joey Votto
Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds has written himself into the Reds, all time record books as he`s officially tied Pete Rose for one of the most walks drawn in franchise history. Votto has drawn 1,210 walks in 7,564 plate appearances, compared to Rose`s 1,210 walks in 12,334 plate appearances.
Votto, 37 is in his 14th big league season in 2020, all with the Reds and has begun to slow down offensively in recent years. Votto has also tied hall of fame SS Barry Larkin for 6th all time (in Reds history).
Yan Gomes
The Chicago Cubs have signed catcher Yan Gomes to a two year, $13 million deal. The 34 year old made his big league debut in 2012 with Toronto and began the 2021 season with the Nationals before being traded to the athletics.
He played 103 total games, batting 252 with 14 home runs and 52 RBIS, while posting an OBP of 301. He will now likely back up Wilson Contreras on the northside.
Also Read | Greatest MLB Players of All Time
