This afternoon Miguel Cabrera became the 33rd player in MLB history to collect 3,000 career hits. The longtime Detroit Tiger did so in front of the home fans with a single off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela in the bottom of the first en route to a 13-0 victory.
Perhaps the happiest person at Comerica Park was Rockies shortstop Jose Iglesias who ran over to first base to give Cabrera the ball and embrace him. Cabrera and Iglesias were teammates on the Tigers for more than five seasons and are very close friends.
Cabrera is now only one of three players with 3,000 hits, 500 career home runs and a lifetime batting average of .300. The two others are Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.
Now while I hoped Cabrera would have doubled for his 3,000 hit, I shall savor his achievement just the same because it will be quite awhile before we see another player join the 3,000 club.
Aside from Cabrera and Albert Pujols, there are only three active MLB players with more than 2,000 hits - Robinson Cano (2,630), Yadier Molina (2,116) and Joey Votto (2,035). Cano and Molina are 39 with this being Molina's final MLB season and Votto is 38.
If we look at the Top 25 active hit leaders, I think there are four players who have a plausible shot at 3,000 hits - Freddie Freeman (1,722), Eric Hosmer (1,648), Manny Machado (1,445) and Mike Trout (1,428). Freeman and Hosmer are 32, Trout is 30 and Machado is 29. Of course, all of this assumes they can stay healthy and productive. Keep in mind that Trout has been injured most of the past three seasons. All of which makes Cabrera's achievement all the more remarkable.
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