Against the odds, Nolan Arenado is a 30-home run hitter for the Diamondbacks

SAN DIEGO — Nolan Arenado hit 28 home runs combined over the previous two seasons before the Arizona Diamondbacks traded for the third baseman last offseason.

Defense and leadership were the baseline expectations for Arenado in Arizona, and whatever was left in the tank offensively was bonus.

In his age 35 campaign, Arenado has clubbed 30 home runs, punishing a hanging slider from San Diego Padres pitcher Casey Mize on Friday to hit a mark he had not reached since 2022. That year, Arenado was a finalist for the National League MVP with the St. Louis Cardinals.

He has experienced some quieter times since then, suggesting he declined to the point where he could no longer be relied on as an impact bat for a lineup.

The potential future Hall of Famer has reversed time this season for a team that has sorely needed the production.

“It meant a lot,” Arenado told Arizona Sports after hitting his 30th home run. “Just from where I started and just where I’ve been the last couple of years. It hasn’t been easy, but I just thank God that I’ve been healthy. And I owe a lot of credit to the hitting coaches for challenging me and all these guys for challenging me to take chances and work on things.”

Nolan Arenado is on a HEATER!

9 HR in September, 30 HR on the season 😯 pic.twitter.com/1ZcIDpDnmo

— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2026

Arenado was visibly amped running the bases after the blast that put the D-backs ahead 6-2 in a must-win game they would take 11-4. The Southern California native also did it in front of his parents and brother, who made the hour drive south to watch him play.

“That was really cool,” Arenado said.

This is the eighth time Arenado has hit 30 home runs in a season. 28 players all-time have more such seasons and only two while spending most of their time at third base, per Stathead: Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt (12) and Eddie Mathews (10).

Arenado did so from 2015-19 and picked the streak back up after the shortened 2020 campaign in 2021-22.

This is the outlier outside his prime, especially after he hit 12 home runs last season.

“He has regained a lot of that offensive magic that’s been with him for so long,” manager Torey Lovullo said.

When asked about his offense’s recent success, Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said on Friday, “We’re hitting more home runs. Arenado’s hitting a home run every night.”

Arenado has homered nine times in September, second in Major League Baseball to Baltimore’s Pete Alonso (11). He owns an .889 OPS in the second half of this season. And his four home runs in the past five games have come at a time when the Diamondbacks have had to win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Arenado joked on the Diamondbacks TV broadcast Friday night that he is probably making Arizona’s hitting coaches work harder than they ever had before. He gave hitting coach Joe Mather a big hug in the dugout after going yard.

Arenado came to Arizona with a reputation of being a maniacal competitor and worker.

He has aimed to challenge himself during his preparation before games to get his body up to speed at this age, not totally dissimilar to Eugenio Suarez when he turned around his 2024 season in Arizona. The veteran has said lately he has cooled off the pregame physical work to maintain his body this late in the season, which has paid off.

Health has also been a factor, as Arenado dealt with shoulder issues at the end of his St. Louis tenure that he felt hampered him. He has been banged up in the second half of this season (intercostal, thumb) but has managed to limit his time off the field.

Before Friday’s game, Arenado stood in the batter’s box with his headphones and a bat, practicing his load and stride. Nobody was throwing batting practice yet, and there were still tamps and other grounds-keeping equipment on the field. Perhaps he was visualizing what soon became reality when he shot a ball into the Western Metal Supply Co. building.

Lars Nootbaar has had a front-row seat to Arenado’s career since he came up with the Cardinals in 2021, reuniting with the veteran at this past trade deadline.

“I just think that if anybody saw what he does and what he goes through on a daily basis and to try to get himself in a good position and be as obsessive as he is and be as passionate as he is, to get rewarded in this game and to be able to hit 30 in front of his family, that’s really cool from a baseball fan perspective and friend,” Nootbaar said.

Geraldo Perdomo predicted this re-breakout season back in spring training, and he claims to have called Arenado going for 30 home runs a couple weeks ago.

“I’m happy for him,” Perdomo said. “He’s the type of player who works every day hard in the cages with the hitting coaches to get better.”

Arenado enters Saturday second among qualified D-backs hitters with an .803 OPS, ahead of Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte and trailing Gabriel Moreno.

He has previously been candid about wishing he has had more success this year with runners in scoring position, a shortcoming for large chunks of the season both individually and team-wide. He is batting .228 in those spots, although the OPS has climbed to .745.

This is not quite the MVP-candidate version of Arenado’s prime, but there is no doubt that the Diamondbacks acquiring him from St. Louis without having to pay the majority of his contract was a steal. It is arguably the biggest win of Hazen’s offseason.

Arenado is up to 383 career home runs, as the celebrated 400 benchmark is within grasp in 2027. MLB also revealed the 20 top-selling jerseys for the 2026 season, and Arenado was 19th on the list, the highest Diamondback.

For now and most importantly, with the D-backs trailing the final NL Wild Card spot by one game with two to play, can Arenado push this hot streak a couple games further?

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