Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado is one of the greatest defensive third basemen ever, combining Gold Glove defense with consistent power hitting.

Nolan James Arenado was born on April 16, 1991, in Newport Beach, California, and raised in nearby Lake Forest, attending El Toro High School — the same school that would later produce fellow major league star Paul Skenes. His father, Fernando, is of Cuban descent, and his mother, Millie, a native of Queens, New York, is of Cuban and Puerto Rican ancestry, giving Arenado a multicultural upbringing rooted in Southern California's baseball culture. His older brother Jonah also played in the minor leagues, and the Arenado family's shared passion for the sport shaped Nolan's relentless, detail-oriented approach to the game from a young age. The Colorado Rockies selected Arenado in the second round of the 2009 draft, and he debuted in the majors in 2013, quickly establishing himself as arguably the finest defensive third baseman of his generation. His combination of quick reflexes, a powerful accurate arm, and an almost intuitive read on batted balls produced highlight-reel plays on a nightly basis, and he won his first Gold Glove Award in his rookie season — a run that would eventually stretch to ten total. Arenado paired that defensive brilliance with genuine offensive power, leading the National League in home runs three times and RBIs twice during his tenure in Colorado. After eight seasons with the Rockies, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals ahead of the 2021 season, reuniting him with a franchise built on the same defensive excellence that had defined his career. Now in his mid-thirties, Arenado continues adding to one of the most decorated defensive résumés in baseball history, with 10 Gold Gloves, five Silver Sluggers, and eight All-Star selections — a résumé that places him among the greatest all-around third basemen the sport has ever produced.

Right-handed power hitter with elite defensive skills at third base

One of the greatest defensive third basemen in MLB history

• 10x Gold Glove
• 5x Silver Slugger
• 8x All-Star
• led NL in HR (3x) and RBI (2x)