Fansided

Robinson Cano joined elite company on Thursday night

By Tre LyDay

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 19: Robinson Cano #22 of the Seattle Mariners takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field on September 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Rangers won the game 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 19: Robinson Cano #22 of the Seattle Mariners takes a swing during an at-bat in a game against the Texas Rangers at Safeco Field on September 19, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Rangers won the game 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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Robinson Cano accomplished something on Thursday that only four other players have done.

The Seattle Mariners haven’t made the playoffs since 2001, but that didn’t stop Robinson Cano from signing a 10-year $240 million contract with them in 2014. Cano has done a lot of great things in his career, and he added something else to the list on Thursday.

In the bottom of the ninth, Cano launched a solo home run to center field. That home run cut the Mariners deficit to two, but it was also the 300th of his career. Cano is now one of five players to hit 300-plus home runs, and 500-plus doubles by the end of their age-34 season.

Cano has a World Series ring from his time with the Yankees, and probably would have stayed in New York had they just let him be himself. Cano is a smooth second baseman, who can even make jogging down the first base line on a grounder to second look good.

He makes ranging to his right and throwing across his body for an out look easier than it should; and his ability to turn a double play is something every little leaguer should strive to be able to do.

The Yankees weren’t overly thrilled with the fact that he rarely gives 100 percent on routine ground balls, but why should he? Cano is one of the great second basemen of this generation, so the fact that he’s not trying to pull a hammy running out a 4-6 putout shouldn’t matter.

Over the past few years though, injuries have somewhat started to slow down Cano. He dealt with a core issue a few years ago that lead to statistically one of his worst seasons of his career (even though he still hit 21 home runs). He hasn’t hit .300 since, but that’s mostly due to the fact that he plays in an enormous park, and the injuries have played a factor.

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Robinson Cano turns probably the best double play of this generation, and has a sweet swing. His contract expires in 2024 when he’s 41, and wouldn’t we all be the luckiest fans if he was able to make it that long. Who knows, but hopefully he never changes.

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