Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Paul Goldschmidt doesn’t possess many flaws on the baseball diamond. Since his first at-bat resulted in a base hit back in 2011, Goldschmidt has provided a spark for a recently lackluster Arizona Diamondbacks club. Two seasons later, Goldschmidt led the National League in RBIs, and his 36 home runs tied him with Pittsburgh Pirates‘ Pedro Alvarez for most in the NL. The 102 runs driven in that year made Goldy the first Diamondback to eclipse the 100 RBI milestone since Adam LaRoche did it three years prior. Adding to his resume, that season Goldschmidt was awarded the Hank Aaron Award for the league’s top hitter, a Silver Slugger Award and a Golden Glove, but was snubbed for MVP when the award was given to Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen who led the Buccos to the playoffs after a 20-year absence.
Last season would have mirrored Goldschmidt’s 2013 stats if he wasn’t sidelined after only 109 games when an inside pitch broke the slugger’s hand. Still, the sky’s the limit for the 27-year-old. In just a little over three spectacular seasons, Goldschmidt is averaging 93 RBIs and 26 home runs to go along with his stellar .292 career average. The only things holding him back are the franchise that employs him and the city he plays in.
Despite excelling in his craft and rising to the top of the ranks in nearly all offensive and defensive categories, Goldschmidt only brings home an average of $6.4 million a year. That’s one-fifth of Miguel Cabrera‘s annual earnings and even $2.5 million less than injury-riddled teammate Cody Ross. Unlike Mike Trout, who shines bright in the L.A. spotlight and plays for a World Series contender, Goldschmidt currently resides on one of the league’s worst teams record-wise. He deserves to be in the conversation with the Mike Trouts and Miguel Cabreras.
Despite being the fourth-largest city in America, Phoenix is absent of the national spotlight. Playing for a city full of transplants with foreign sports allegiances isn’t easy. It’s not difficult to feel like the away team or fan when Los Angeles, Chicago or New York teams take the field. But a player with Goldschmidt’s talent hasn’t resided in the Valley of the Sun since Steve Nash crafted a perennial championship contender and forged a unyielding fanbase. Further, the career of another Arizona sports hero, Larry Fitzgerald, is coming to a close, with one or two quality seasons left for the Arizona Cardinals.
Like the others, Goldy humbly rises to the occasion daily and puts the team on his back. His numbers and character don’t lie. He has earned the praise and media craze he would receive if he were wearing pinstripes or a blue and red “B” on his cap. It’s time for the organization and the state to return the favor and go all-in.
