Could D-backs’ Paul Goldschmidt join the 40-40 club this season?

Paul Goldschmidt has been Superman for the Arizona Diamondbacks since getting called up in 2011.

Since then, he has racked up four All-Star appearances (starting two), two Gold Gloves, two Silver Slugger awards, a Hank Aaron Award, two runner-up finishes for MVP and already a spot as one of the greatest D-backs ever.

He’s been a contender or winner for virtually every available award, but his hot start this season of a .317 average with 10 home runs, 32 RBI and nine stolen bases has nearly put him on pace to join one of the rarest clubs in sports, the 40-40 club.

As Michael Beller of Sports Illustrated points out, Goldschmidt could become just the fifth player to join the elusive club.

For Goldschmidt to break into the 40-40 club, he will need to surpass his career highs in both home runs (36) and stolen bases (32) significantly.

Goldschmidt would be the first player from his position to join the club, as the four other members include three outfielders – Jose Canseco in 1988, Barry Bonds in 1996 and Alfonso Soriano in 2006. The other member joined in 1998, when 22-year old shortstop Alex Rodriguez hit 42 home runs and stole 46 bases.

What makes Goldschmidt unique, though, is his position. Canseco and Bonds were outfielders their whole careers, and Soriano had just moved to the outfield from second base when he had his 40/40 season. Rodriguez, meanwhile, was a 22-year-old shortstop when he joined the 40/40 club. Goldschmidt is a first baseman in his age-29 season. First basemen simply don’t do this sort of thing, let alone one who will turn 30 in the final month of the regular season. In that vein, Goldschmidt is on pace for a season the likes of which we have never seen.

He is an anomaly in the league, and with new manager Torey Lovullo, the Diamondbacks are first in the league with 40 stolen bases. Goldschmidt’s nine steals are currently seventh in the league. This is already a rarity, according to Beller.

Even if Goldschmidt weren’t hitting for elite power, he would be trending toward a rare class. Since 1901, there have been 43 30-steal seasons by a first baseman. Of those 43, 36 occurred between 1901 and 1922. Modern-day first basemen just don’t pilfer bags the way Goldschmidt does. If he reaches the 30-steal mark again this season after swiping 32 last year, he’ll join Bagwell as the only first basemen to play since 1930 with multiple 30-steal seasons. That he’s doing that while also pushing the 40-homer plateau is truly special.

Staying on pace for the 40 home runs for Goldschmidt is easier said than done given his finish last season. Goldschmidt hit just nine home runs after the All-Star break last season, finishing with just 24.