Nolan Arenado’s first season in Arizona has already left a mark beyond the box score. Even with the Diamondbacks’ roster built around more familiar local names, it was Arenado who cracked MLB’s top 20 in jersey sales for 2026.
MLB and MLB Players, Inc. released Nike jersey sales from the Fanatics network of sites, including MLBShop.com, and Arenado was the only Arizona player to make the list. He checked in at No. 19, between San Diego Padres shortstop Jackson Merrill and Chicago White Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami. Notably, neither Corbin Carroll nor Ketel Marte appeared on the list.
That’s a pretty striking turn for a player who arrived in Arizona with plenty of name recognition but not much certainty about how the fit would go. Arenado spent the previous five seasons with the St.
Louis Cardinals before landing in the desert, and the early returns were rocky. The veteran third baseman got off to a slow start and at one point saw his batting average fall below .200.
Then the season started to turn. Arenado settled in and began producing like the player fans have known for years. He now leads the Diamondbacks with 29 home runs and 83 RBIs, numbers that have helped keep the club in the postseason hunt.
For Arenado, the first year in Arizona has become more than just an adjustment period. It’s looked more and more like a rebound. The jersey sales only underline how quickly he has become a visible part of the Diamondbacks’ identity, even in a market where the expected stars didn’t top the list.
Arenado may have been new to the organization in 2026, but baseball fans clearly knew exactly who he was.
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