Playing in his 20th Major League Baseball season, Detroit Tigers’ first baseman and designated hitter, Miguel Cabrera, is closing in on one of the most historic milestones a player can achieve.
At 2,995 hits, Cabrera needs just five more to become the 33rd player in MLB history to reach 3,000 career hits. When he reaches this milestone, he joins an elite group. Cabrera will be the seventh player in MLB history to have both 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. The only active player with more hits and home runs is Albert Pujols with 3,306 hits and 681 home runs.
Cabrera is one double away from becoming the 18th player to ever hit 600 doubles and is two doubles away from tying Barry Bonds. The good news for Tigers fans: he’s likely to reach this milestone at his home ballpark. While last weekend looked promising for Cabrera to hit the milestone, the Tigers game in Kansas City was rained out, which set him up for this week. The Tigers current homestand takes place April 19-24, 2022 where they will face off against both the New York Yankees and the Colorado Rockies. Each series gives Cabrera plenty of time to reach that milestone in front of his home crowd at Comerica Park in Detroit.
Cabrera, who broke into the league back in 2003 at 20 years old with the Florida (now Miami) Marlins, has been an elite hitter since his rookie season. He holds a top spot in many statistical categories, including 22nd all-time in RBIs, 28th in home runs, 70th in runs, and 52nd in OPS+. He also helped lead the 2003 Marlins to their second-ever World Series championship.
Cabrera is an easy shoo-in to be an MLB Hall of Fame inductee after his career comes to an end. He’s currently under contract with the Tigers through the 2023 season, so it’s likely we’ll see him pass a few more players on the all-time hit list over the next couple of seasons.
Although he began his career with the Florida Marlins, he has been the face of the Detroit Tigers since he joined the team back in 2007 after being traded during the offseason. He further cemented his place in the organization when he signed an eight-year, $152.3 million contract the following year. At that time, it was the biggest contract in Tigers history. Cabera’s name has become synonymous with the Detroit Tigers franchise.
Cabrera has achieved significant accolades during his career. He’s won two MVPs and seven Silver Sluggers, and has been selected for 11 All-Star games. Perhaps his most iconic achievement was during the 2012 season when he won the first Triple Crown award since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. Cabrera led the American League with a .330 batting average, 44 home runs, and 139 RBIs.
Grab Detroit Tigers tickets so you don’t miss Cabrera’s incredible milestone this week.