Which MLB Player Will Be Next to 3,000 Hits?
On Saturday, Tigers legend Miguel Cabrera recorded career hit number 3,000 during Detroit’s 13-0 rout of the Colorado Rockies in the first half of a double-header, the finishing touch on his Hall of Fame resume.
Cabrera is the third member of a select group of hitters to have slugged 500 home runs and 3,000 hits on a career batting average of .300+.
Only three players in MLB history have 500 homers, 3,000 hits, and a .300+ career batting average.
Hank Aaron. Willie Mays. And now, @MiguelCabrera. pic.twitter.com/F0ZBWU6ka8
— MLB (@MLB) April 23, 2022
Cabrera joined Albert Pujols as the only other active member of MLB’s 3,000 hit club. A perusal of MLB’s active hit leaderboard should give fans an idea of how difficult it is to achieve this feat. The third and fourth-ranked hitters, Robinson Canó and Yadier Molina, respectively, are near the end of their careers and still well short of the mark.
This leaves fans with the question of which player will next reach the 3,000 hit milestone. Here are my personal choices for the most likely candidates.
League Veterans
Age: 31
Career Hits: 1,783
Hits/162 Games: 200
Active Leaderboard Rank: 10th
Altuve is the youngest player ranked in the top 10 of the active hits leaderboard. He has led the majors in hits in both 2014 and 2016 and the American League in 2015 and 2017, his MVP* season. It is possible he could reach 3,000 by the end of the decade.
Age: 29
Career Hits: 1,287
Hits/162 Games: 161
Active Leaderboard Rank: 32nd
Harper made his MLB debut at the age of 19, winning his first of two MVP awards in his age-22 season. While he has never led his league or the majors in hits, the six-time All-Star’s early start and longevity in the game make him a strong contender for the 3K club.
Age: 30
Career Hits: 1,431
Hits/162 Games: 178
Active Leaderboard Rank: 22nd
Mike Trout is the best active player in MLB, ranking 2nd in active position player bWAR behind Pujols, who is on the verge of retirement. The three-time MVP could theoretically reach the 3K threshold at the end of his current long-term contract in 2030 if he maintains his current 178 hit/season average. However, he will most likely fall off the pace with age.
Youngins
Age: 24
Career Hits: 426
Hits/162 Games: 175
Active Leaderboard Rank: N/A
The 2018 Rookie of the Year would likely be past the 500 hit mark if not for the ACL injury that brought his 2021 campaign to a premature end. He is expected to make his 2022 debut in early May.
Age: 23
Career Hits: 390
Hits/162 Games: 176
Active Leaderboard Rank: N/A
Guerrero Jr. enjoyed a breakout season in 2021, finishing 2nd in American League MVP voting with an MLB-best 48 home runs. The one-time All-Star should remain an absolute monster at the plate in 2022 and beyond.
Age: 23
Career Hits: 500
Hits/162 Games: 168
Active Leaderboard Rank: N/A
Soto debuted at the age of 19 and won his first batting title in his age-21 season. He recently notched his 500th career hit and is one of the league’s most dangerous hitters at the tender age of 23.
Who are your favorites to reach the 3,000 hit milestone? Leave a comment!
Miguel Cabrera, 1st baseman for the Detroit Tigers, standing with bat in hand at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, USA on June 9, 2017, by Keeton Gale / Shutterstock.com.
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