Several Mets milestones that could be reached in 2016

The 2016 Mets have a strong mix of youth and experience. Many of the younger players, especially the pitchers, are approaching the first of what could be many milestones in their promising careers. Some of the team’s veterans are nearing marks that would put them in truly special company among the game’s greatest players. Here, we preview some of the major milestones that Mets players—and their manager—will be chasing during the 2016 season.

David Wright: 250 home runs, 1,000 RBIs, 2,000 hits, 1,000 runs scored, 400 doubles, 200 stolen bases

The Mets’ captain is closing in on some major career milestones. If he can stay even relatively healthy in 2016, he should be able to reach at least a few of them this year. Wright is just 15 home runs away from 250, 44 RBIs and 69 runs scored from 1,000 of each, 18 doubles from 400, and seven stolen bases from 200. Were he to reach 200 steals, he would become just the fourth third baseman in history—joining Paul Molitor, Howard Johnson, and George Brett—with 200 home runs and 200 stolen bases. Wright is also 254 hits away from 2,000, an impressive milestone that, depending on his health, he is likely to reach next year or beyond.

Curtis Granderson: 300 home runs, 800 RBIs, 1,500 hits, 1,000 runs scored, 300 doubles, 150 stolen bases

Granderson is on track to reach a few big milestones of his own in 2016. Assuming good health, he is almost certain to collect the 64 hits he needs to reach 1,5000, the 48 runs scored he needs for 1,000, and the 58 RBIs he needs for 800. He exceeded all of those single-season totals in each of his first two years with the Mets. Granderson is also 37 home runs and 41 doubles shy of 300 apiece. Given that he didn’t reach either total in either of the last two years, he’ll likely have to wait until 2017 to join the 300 homers-300 doubles club.

Finally, Granderson needs just nine more stolen bases—fewer than he had last year, but more than he had in 2014—to reach 150 for his career. When he does reach 300 homers and 150 stolen bases, he will be come just the 11th center fielder (his primary career position) in baseball history to do so, joining Willie Mays, Steve Finley, Andre Dawson, Carlos Beltran, Torii Hunter, Ken Griffey Jr., Ellis Burks, Dale Murphy, Mickey Mantle, and Andruw Jones. Not bad company in which to be.

Neil Walker: 100 home runs, 500 RBIs, 1,000 hits, 500 runs scored, 200 doubles

Over the last six years, Walker has established himself as one of the game’s most consistent and productive offensive second basemen. As a result, he’s closing in on some nice round numbers. Walker is just seven homers away from 100 and 26 doubles from 200, both of which are within striking distance this year. He also needs 81 RBIs and 95 runs scored to reach 500 of each, and 167 hits to reach 1,000. Based on his normal offensive output, he is more likely to reach those latter three milestones in 2017. Walker will become one of 45 second basemen in baseball history to reach all five milestones.  It’ll be interesting to see where Walker’s career takes him, as he moves into the top 50 offensive second basemen of all time during just his age-30 season.

Matt Reynolds: 1…of everything!

Reynolds may not be the only Met to make his major league debut in 2016, but he certainly appears to be the most likely. By releasing Ruben Tejada, the Mets made Reynolds a leading candidate to earn a roster spot as the team’s second backup infielder. Even though he didn't make the Opening Day roster, Reynolds seems primed for a call-up if and when the Mets need another infielder on the team.

Bartolo Colon: 3,000 innings pitched

The ageless wonder is close to a few milestones, some he may reach and others he may not. The one he is almost certain to reach this year is 3,000 innings pitched, of which he is just 18.0 innings shy. Colon will be competing with C.C. Sabathia, who is 11.1 innings short, to be the 135th pitcher in baseball history to reach the plateau. Colon is also 32 wins away from 250 and 262 strikeouts from 2,500. In order to reach either of those milestones, the 42-year-old will need to stick around for another couple of seasons as a major league starter. If he plays as long as Julio Franco did, who knows how high Colon can climb in baseball’s record books.

Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom: The 500-K Club

Harvey and deGrom are on the verge of striking out the 500th batter of each of their young careers. Harvey needs just 49 more whiffs to hit the mark, while deGrom needs 151. Zack Wheeler seems primed to join the 500-strikeout club in late 2017, as he is slated to return to the mound in the middle of this season and 229 strikeouts short of the mark.

Jeurys Familia: 50 going on 100 saves

With 49 career saves under his belt, Familia is one short of 50 and well on his way to more. The Mets’ closer notched 43 saves last year, meaning that a repeat performance can put him close to triple digits by year’s end. Given that the closer role is relatively new in baseball, the 26-year-old could start quickly climbing the game’s saves leaderboard if he establishes himself as the Mets’ stopper for the years to come. Armando Benitez’s 289 saves, for example, rank within the top 30 of all time.

Terry Collins: 900 career wins, 400 with the Mets

The Mets’ manager is just six wins shy of 400 with the team, and 62 short of 900 for his career. Assuming that he manages the entirety of the two years left on his contract, Collins is almost certain to pass Bobby Valentine and his 536 managerial wins to move into second place all time (behind only Davey Johnson) among Mets managers. If Collins manages the Mets to just a .500 record over the next two years, he will become the 65th manager in baseball history to reach 1,000 career wins, after fellow managers Clint Hurdle, Ned Yost, Bob Melvin, and Joe Maddon likely become numbers 61 through 64.