PHOENIX — A new face in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 roster has made a surprisingly familiar impression across the baseball world this season, and his jersey sales reflect that.
Sep 22, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) celebrates in the dugout on a solo home run in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
This player isn’t the team’s longest-tenured star. He’s not one of the young faces fans have watched develop in Arizona, and he might not even be the player most people would expect to lead the way in popularity when it comes to baseball jerseys.
But when MLB and MLB Players, Inc. (MLBPI) posted Nike jersey sales from the Fanatics network of sites — including MLBShop.com — one lone Diamondbacks player made the cut in the top 20: Nolan Arenado.
The best-selling jerseys of the 2026 MLB season pic.twitter.com/6bC6Wd4eCe
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 25, 2026
Arenado ranked No. 19 on the list, trailing San Diego Padres shortstop Jackson Merrill and just above Chicago White Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami. Not even Corbin Carroll or Ketel Marte, two of Arizona’s most recognizable players, cracked the list.
The recognition comes after the third baseman’s first year in the desert, one that began with plenty of adjustment and eventually turned into a career rebound.
Sep 23, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a two run single in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Arenado arrived in Arizona after spending the previous five seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. A 10-time Gold Glove winner and eight-time All-Star, the veteran brought plenty of recognition with him, but his transition to the D-Backs didn’t immediately translate into production.
He struggled early and at one point saw his batting average dip below .200. But as the season progressed, Arenado found his footing and put together some of his best offensive numbers in several years.
Sep 22, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) reacts from second on a double in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Arenado currently leads the team in home runs (29) and RBIs (83). That production, combined with his veteran presence, has kept the D-Backs alive in the postseason race.
2026 may have brought Arenado to a new organization, but it also marked something more. He isn’t just helping the Snakes chase a postseason berth; he’s turning a new page in his career.
And perhaps the No. 19 jersey on MLB’s list is another sign of that transition.
Jul 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits a double and records his 2000th career hit in the fifth inning against the Athletics at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
Arenado may have been the new guy in Arizona, but his name was already familiar to baseball fans. After a season in which he rediscovered his offensive production and became a central part of the D-Backs’ lineup, that familiarity followed him into the desert — and onto the backs of fans around the country.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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