Nolan Arenado
A baseball artist at third base whose glove work redefined defensive excellence and whose powerful bat made him the complete cornerstone of any lineup.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American baseball player·Birthday: April 16·Millennials
Biography
Nolan Arenado plays baseball with a blend of preternatural instinct and old-school intensity. From the moment he arrived in Colorado, he changed the geometry of the hot corner, making diving stops, barehanded picks, and laser throws look routine. His unprecedented streak of Gold Gloves from his rookie year onward wasn't just about hands; it was about anticipation, footwork, and a relentless will to steal hits. Offensively, he matured from a contact hitter into a consistent power threat, annually ranking among the league leaders in RBIs and extra-base hits. His trade to St. Louis fused his all-around game with a storied franchise's expectations, where he continued to deliver MVP-caliber seasons. Arenado's career is a masterclass in playing the game the right way, with flash and fundamental soundness in perfect balance.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Nolan was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nolan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Nolan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in each of his first ten MLB seasons, the only infielder ever to do so.
- Has hit 30 or more home runs in eight different seasons.
- Led the National League in home runs three times (2015, 2016, 2018) and in RBIs twice (2015, 2016).
- Is a five-time winner of the Platinum Glove Award as the best overall defender in the National League.
- Has been selected as an MLB All-Star seven times.
Did You Know?
He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the second round of the 2009 MLB draft.
He and his wife are both of Cuban descent.
His older brother, Jonah, played minor league baseball in the Chicago Cubs system.
He is known for his meticulous preparation and is often one of the first players to arrive at the ballpark for early defensive work.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense. I want to be known as a guy who can save runs, not just drive them in.”
