Nolan Arenado

Nolan James Arenado (born April 16, 1991) is an American professional baseball third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is considered one of the greatest defensive third basemen ever, and he is the only infielder to have won a Gold Glove in each of his first ten MLB seasons. He debuted with the Colorado Rockies in 2013, was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals before 2021, and was dealt again in January 2026 to the Diamondbacks.

From Newport Beach, California, Arenado attended El Toro High School in Lake Forest before the Rockies picked him in the second round of the 2009 draft. An eight-time All-Star, his defensive honors include ten Gold Gloves, four Fielding Bible Awards (three consecutive), three straight Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Awards, and six consecutive Platinum Gloves. Offensively, he has won five Silver Slugger Awards, twice led the league in home runs and RBI, and has led all major leaguers in RBI since 2015.

In the minors, he was a two-time Futures Game selection and led the minors with 155 RBI in 163 games in 2011. In 2016, he became the youngest Rockie to reach 100 home runs. He has hit for the cycle twice—on June 18, 2017, and July 1, 2022—and became the sixth player to finish one with a walk-off homer. In 2017, he was the 11th major leaguer and first third baseman to drive in 130 or more runs in three straight seasons.

Internationally, Arenado has represented the United States and Puerto Rico. He helped Team USA win its first World Baseball Classic gold in 2017 and earned a silver in 2023. For the 2026 tournament, he played for Puerto Rico.

Arenado was born in Newport Beach and raised in Lake Forest, California. His father, Fernando, is of Cuban descent; his mother, Millie, is of Cuban and Puerto Rican ancestry. He has an older brother, Fernando Jr., and a younger brother, Jonah, a corner infielder in the Giants organization. His cousin, Josh Fuentes, played with him on the Rockies in 2019 and 2020. A Dodgers fan growing up, he attended El Toro High School, playing shortstop alongside future big leaguers Austin Romine and Matt Chapman. As a junior in 2008, El Toro won the CIF Southern Section championship, and he made the Los Angeles Times All-Star team after hitting .456 with 32 RBI and 33 runs. As a senior, he batted .517 with a .615 OBP, five homers, 14 doubles, and a triple, earning another All-Star nod. He committed to Arizona State University on a baseball scholarship.

The Rockies drafted him 59th overall in 2009. He signed instead of attending ASU and debuted with the Casper Ghosts of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, batting .300. In 2010, with the Asheville Tourists (Single-A), he hit .308 with 41 doubles. Before 2011, Baseball America ranked him the Rockies' third-best prospect and 80th overall, praising his hitting but questioning his defense.

Playing for the Modesto Nuts (High-A), he worked hard on his footwork after being criticized by manager Jerry Weinstein. He took extra ground balls, lifted weights, and developed explosive range and versatility at third base. That year, he represented the Rockies at the Futures Game, finished the season with a .298 average and 20 homers, and led the minors with 122 RBI. He was named MVP of the Arizona Fall League after hitting .388 with six homers and 33 RBI.

In 163 combined games in 2011, he batted .315 with 201 hits, 155 RBI, 26 homers, and 44 doubles. In 2012 with the Tulsa Drillers (Double-A), he made another Futures Game appearance and finished with a .285 average, 12 homers, and 56 RBI.

Despite a strong spring in 2013, the Rockies optioned him to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.