With his leadoff double in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Adrian Gonzalez reached 2,000 career hits. He was congratulated by Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer and received a standing ovation from the PNC Park crowd.
Gonzalez becomes the seventh player to do so in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform and first since Jeff Kent in July 2005. Players to also do so in Los Angeles franchise history are Tim Wallach (1995), Brett Butler (1994), Gary Carter (1991), Willie Davis (1973) and Maury Wills (1971).
Gonzalez is the 285th player in MLB history and 11th active player with at least 2,000 hits in his career. This season has been unlike any other for the veteran first baseman.
He was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career, and landed on the DL a second time because of a balky back.
Tuesday was only Gonzalez’s 54th game played this year and third since being activated. Because of the time missed, the 35-year-old is on track to finish with the third-lowest season hit total of his career.
In 2013, Gonzalez’s first full season with the Dodgers, he collected 171 hits over 157 games. Since then, he’s tallied 163 hits in 159 games in 2014, 157 in 156 in 2015, and 162 in 156 last season.
Gonzalez’s best season with respect to hits came in 2011 with the Boston Red Sox, when he finished with 213 hits over 159 games. The former No. 1 overall pick may be near the end of his career, as next season is the last remaining on Gonzalez’s contract.
