With a single in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday afternoon, Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera became the 33rd player in Major League Baseball history with 3,000 career hits.
It’s a milestone Cabrera has seemingly been destined for since he debuted with the Florida Marlins just over four years after signing a professional contract. Even prolonged slumps for much of the past four seasons — as Cabrera dealt with injuries and age and the Tigers dealt with a rebuild — couldn’t derail him from joining fellow franchise icons Ty Cobb (4,189) and Al Kaline (3,007) in the 3,000-hit club.