Twins' Carlos Santana playing in 2,000th career game Friday night

Santana is just the 251st player in MLB history to reach the milestone.

Minnesota Twins first baseman Carlos Santana (30) rounds third base on his way to scoring against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on June 20, 2024. / Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Santana is set to play his 2,000th career Major League Baseball game when the Twins take on the Oakland Athletics Friday night in Oakland, Calif. 

Santana is only the 251st player in MLB history to accomplish that feat. He's currently second in the major leagues among active players in career games played, behind only Andrew McCutchen.

Sneaky cool milestone: Carlos Santana is playing his 2,000th game tonight -- only the 251st player MLB history to reach that threshold. He is second among active players in games behind Andrew McCutchen. Santana's productivity hasn't slowed, either: He leads Minnesota with 12 HR.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 22, 2024

“I’m very proud. I feel great. I feel great,” Santana told the Pioneer Press’ Betsy Helfand in Oakland. “I think I’ve worked hard for that and for this moment. (Friday) is a special day for me.” 

Carlos Santana is set to become the 251st player in Major League Baseball history to play in 2,000 games when he takes the field tonight.

Santana: "I'm very proud. I feel great. I feel great. I think I've worked hard for that and for this moment. Today is a special day for me."

— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) June 22, 2024

Santana is in the lineup for the 8:40 p.m. first pitch, playing first base. Santana, 38, is in his first season with the Twins after previous stints with the Cleveland Guardians, Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers. 

Santana first signed as an amateur free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004 but made his debut in 2010 with Cleveland. Across his 15-year career, Santana has recorded 1,723 hits, 313 home runs and 1,049 RBIs. He’s a career .242 hitter.