Rockies’ Nolan Arenado the first to 100 RBI in 2017

Nolan Arenado’s case for NL MVP just got a little bit stronger.

The Colorado Rockies are one of baseball’s biggest surprises in 2017, and their success is due in no small part to All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado. Friday night, Arenado cemented his status as a top-tier NL MVP candidate, hitting an opposite field two-run wall scraper in the top of the third down in Miami to make him the first player of the year to reach 100 RBI.

https://twitter.com/Rockies/status/896163586434678785

This adds to the laundry list of accomplishments for Arenado, and this is far from the first time he’s eclipsed 100 RBI. In fact, it’s the third season in a row he has reached that mark. In those two seasons, Arenado has finished eighth and fifth respectively in MVP voting. However, this is the first time he’s been above the .300 mark when reaching 100 RBI, only bolstering his already strong case. Arenado also leads all third basemen in fielding percentage, looking to add his fifth consecutive Gold Glove.

All around, few are as good as Arenado. He has arguably become the NL’s best player, leading most statistical categories for fielding and leading the NL in home runs and RBI each of the past two seasons. He, along with teammate Charlie Blackmon, have risen to be Colorado’s much needed spark following the severe decline of Carlos Gonzalez.

Next: Every MLB team’s Mount Rushmore

Arenado’s teammates are not surprised by what he is accomplishing this season.

“He’s a special player and we have all been spoiled to see it forever. I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves nationally,” Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood told the Denver Post.

These comments were after Arenado hit a walk-off home run to complete the cycle earlier this season. He is having a special season, so it’d be a great to see MLB show some respect to one of baseball’s most consistent superstars.