Carlos Beltran became the first switch hitter to hit 300 home runs and steal 300 bases. He reached the milestone on June 15, 2012, when he stole second base for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Kansas City Royals.
Beltran was the eighth player in Major League Baseball history to join the 300–300 club, but he was the first to do it as a switch hitter. A switch hitter bats from either side of home plate, giving the player tactical flexibility against right- and left-handed pitchers.
The achievement reflected both power and speed. Beltran eventually finished his 20-year career with 435 home runs and 312 stolen bases, along with nine All-Star selections and the 1999 American League Rookie of the Year Award.
A common mix-up is confusing this milestone with 300 home runs and 300 doubles, or assuming Beltran was the first MLB player overall to reach both totals. The distinction is that he was the first switch hitter, not the first player, to reach 300 in each category.