(Note: at the end of this post is an update with the final 2024 season results)
Orlando Arcia is now the hitless leader with 59 games. (these include only games when a player starts, so we don’t muck up the stats with pinch hitters having only one at-bat in a game)
| Rank | Player | Team | Hitless games in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando Arcia | ATL | 59 |
| 2 | Eugenio Suárez | ARI | 58 |
| 2 | Christopher Morel | CHC,TBR | 58 |
| 2 | Zack Gelof | OAK | 58 |
| 5 | Jonathan India | CIN | 57 |
| 5 | Elly De La Cruz | CIN | 57 |
| 5 | Pete Alonso | NYM | 57 |
| 8 | Isaac Paredes | CHC,TBR | 56 |
| 8 | Matt Olson | ATL | 56 |
| 8 | Mitch Garver | SEA | 56 |
The previous hitless leader, Zack Gelof, was more interesting because of his extreme burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2023. Meteor-rise, and now he’s crashing back to earth.
Orlando Arcia, on the other hand, doesn’t give the same ringing story.
I don’t have much to say about Orlando Arcia. He’s 30 years old, so it’s not like the Braves are trying out some rookie. He doesn’t have great numbers. But he was an All-Star last year, even though he had only 1.6 WAR in 2023. He did hit 17 HR in 2023, but his OPS+ was 99.
This year, his HR is about the same at 15, but his OPS+ is lower at 76. Basically, it’s a below-average hitter. Why is he in the Atlanta lineup every day, putting up goose eggs?
It appears he’s kinda ok defensively. 3rd this year for double plays turned as SS. 3rd in assists. But he’s 4th in defensive games as SS. So naturally, you’ll have more double plays and assists.
It seems like Arcia is a “let’s just slot ’em in the lineup because that’s what we got since the Cubs took Dansby Swanson.”
Actually, that’s the story of Orlando Arcia. He’s the guy that replaced Dansby Swanson at SS for the Braves. Dansby Swanson was a 7-year veteran at SS for the Braves. Beloved by the fans. Then the Cubs sign him in December 2022.
2023 rolls around, and now Atlanta has another face at shortstop. Arcia was known to the Braves as the backup second-baseman when Ozzie Albies broke his foot and pinky in 2022. Arcia did an ok job filling in at second base in 2022 with an OPS+ of 102. With Swanson gone and Albies back, Arcia slides over to shortstop.
I’d imagine Atlanta fans were very upset that Swanson left. But the replacement, Arcia, has a walk-off RBI in the home opener.
I have this theory that when a player does really incredible at the start with a team, that act gets logged into fans’ brains. Arcia the shortstop is now seen as a clutch hitter. Who needs Swanson?! Arcia’s April OPS was .911. His May OPS was .801.
The Arcia wave rode high, and he’s voted as the starting SS for the NL All-Star team. After the All-Star game, he starts his return to Earth as he hits .713 OPS for the rest of 2023. And now in 2024, he’s the leader for hitless games.
Update: September 11, 2024
Orlando Arcia continues to be the leader for hitless games by a starting player. But the race is heating up to challenge him. We have five players bunched up together for 2nd place.
| Rank | Player | Team | Hitless games |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando Arcia | ATL | 59 |
| 2 | Eugenio Suárez | ARI | 58 |
| 2 | Christopher Morel | CHC,TBR | 58 |
| 2 | Jonathan India | CIN | 58 |
| 2 | Zack Gelof | OAK | 58 |
| 2 | Pete Alonso | NYM | 58 |
| 7 | Elly De La Cruz | CIN | 57 |
| 8 | Isaac Paredes | CHC,TBR | 56 |
| 8 | Matt Olson | ATL | 56 |
| 8 | Mitch Garver | SEA | 56 |
Update: October 2, 2024 (end of regular season)
Orlando Arcia has managed to do it! He went hitless in BOTH games of the Braves-Mets doubleheader. He has secured the title of most hitless games in 2024!
Arcia is the 2024 Goose Egg Champion!
