It’s been somewhat less than a great season for the San Francisco Giants, who seem determined to alienate their supporters of all stripes. The players created a Pride Night controversy and pissed off local fans. Prospect watchers don’t love how the team has actively blocked some of the best young hitters. Old-school traditionalists hate how many defensive and base running mistakes the Giants make. Fans of musicals aren’t thrilled with the team’s purchase of the Curran Theatre. The front office hired
a college baseball coach and alienated, well, mostly just Joe Maddon.
So instead of focusing on which hatemongering pitcher blew the most recent game, or which highly-paid infielder looked at strike three with the bases loaded, or how much Buster Posey’s lip quivered while facing basic questions from the media, let’s look at some of the other wonders of baseball. Namely, the incredible strikeout production of Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who is chasing history this season.
Suarez is one of the most prolific home run hitters of his generation, smacking 49 dingers in both 2019 and 2025. He has 337 career home runs, 10th among all active players and 117th all time. But where he really shines is as one of the most prolific whiffers of all time.
Sunday, Suarez passed the century mark for the season, striking out for the 100th and 101st time this season. He moved into a tie for 16th on the all-time strikeout list with Giants legend Andrew McCutchen. Look, he still hits the ball a long way when he does connect, like this 9th-inning bomb one strike away from defeat last month.
But it’s exciting to see him chasing so many strikeout legends, too. He started the season in 27th place, one strikeout ahead of should-be Hall of Famer Manny Ramirez. Since then, he’s moved past this illustrious list of players:
Dave Kingman (442 home runs, three strikeout titles)
Derek Jeter (Hall of Fame, struck out on unanimous induction by one vote)
Bobby Abreu (good career K numbers, unimpressive strikeout peak)
Ryan Howard (two-time strikeout champ, five seasons of 180+ whiffs)
Chris Davis (two seasons leading the league in strikeouts, two 200+ seasons and five above 190)
Tony Perez (Hall of Fame, racked up strikeouts through his age-44 season)
Fred McGriff (Hall of Fame, promoted defensive drills videos that never mentioned contact hitting)
Mike Schmidt (greatest third baseman of all time, led the league in homers eight times, walks four times, strikeouts four times)
Mike Cameron (led the league in K’s, 2002)
He’s surging this season, sitting only one whiff behind Curtis Granderson and Nelson Cruz with 63 games to play. Next is strikeout prodigy Mark Reynolds, who led the league for four straight seasons from 2008-11, setting the single-season record with 223 in 2009.
Suarez is likely to pass Alameda’s own Willie Stargell, along with Oakland Bash Brother Jose Canseco. It’s going to be tough to break into the top 10 by passing Justin Upton (1971), sitting just shy of the 2K-K club.
9th place is Andres Galarraga, who had 110 strikeouts and 19 homers in two stints in San Francisco, notching his 2,000th career strikeout in a Giants uniform. Should the Giants have added Eric Young to their postseason roster so he could pinch-run for J.T. Snow, instead of a 43-year-old man? Maybe, but that would have prevented Galarraga from notching his 20th playoff strikeout.
Why is it important to pay attention to Suarez now? Because he’s been one of the worst players in baseball this season, slashing .208/.280/.392 and playing below average defense at third base. Suarez is beloved by fans and clubhouses alike, but age 34, this could be his last chance at extending playing/strikeout time.
The World Cup showed us it’s important to appreciate greatness while it’s still in front of us. Eugenio Suarez is making history this season. Plus, if you’ve watched Giants baseball all season, you’re used to seeing a ton of strikeouts.
Suarez is striking out for the record books. He already owns the single-season record for strikeouts by a right-handed hitter. If Geno can hit just a few more dingers this season, he’ll have a chance at another contract, and a chance to chase down Miguel Cabrera (2,105 Ks). He deserves a chance to fulfill his swing-and-miss destiny.
