MLB players with 3,000 hits: Miguel Cabrera joins baseball's short list for milestone

Kevin Skiver

MLB players with 3,000 hits: Miguel Cabrera joins baseball's short list for milestone image

Miguel Cabrera has been hot to start the 2022 season in his quest for 3,000 hits. After starting the year 13 hits off from joining the exclusive club, Cabrera batted .308 in his first 12 games played. He had 12 hits on the year heading into Saturday's contest against the Rockies with 2,999 hits -- one off from joining some prestigious company.

And on Saturday, Cabrera joined the 3,000 hit club at home, grounding a single through the right side of the infield in the bottom of the first inning against Colorado's Antonio Senzatela.

Cabrera joined an even more exclusive subsection of the 3,000 hits club. With his Triple Crown in 2012, Cabrera became one of just three players to win a Triple Crown and get to 3,000 hits for his career. 

MORE: Next to 3,000 hits: Why it could be a long time until another MLB star follows Miguel Cabrera

With Cabrera now in the club, Sporting News is taking a look at the 3,000 hits club and the company Cabrera shares.

How many MLB players have 3,000 hits?

Thirty-three players have 3,000 hits, with Cabrera now No. 33. Just two players -- Pete Rose and Ty Cobb -- have gotten to 4,000 career hits.

Rose still holds the record at 4,256 career hits. Roberto Clemente is the gatekeeper, having reached 3,000 hits in the final game of his career before his tragic death on New Year's Eve in 1972.

Cabrera and Albert Pujols would be the only active players with more than 3,000 hits, with the 42-year-old Pujols leading active players at 3,308 hits.

PlayerHits
Pete Rose4,256
Ty Cobb4,189
Hank Aaron3,771
Stan Musial3,630
Tris Speaker3,514
Derek Jeter3,465
Honus Wagner3,430
Carl Yastrzemski3,419
Paul Molitor3,319
Eddie Collins3,315
Albert Pujols3,308
Willie Mays3,293
Eddie Murray3,255
Nap Lajoie3,252
Cal Ripken Jr.3,184
Adrián Beltré3,166
George Brett3,154
Paul Waner3,152
Robin Yount3,142
Tony Gwynn3,141
Alex Rodriguez3,115
Dave Winfield3,110
Ichiro Suzuki3,089
Craig Biggio3,060
Rickey Henderson3,055
Rod Carew3,053
Lou Brock3,023
Rafael Palmeiro3,020
Cap Anson3,011
Wade Boggs3,010
Al Kaline3,007
Roberto Clemente3,000
Miguel Cabrera3,000

Last player to get 3,000 hits

The most recent player before Cabrera to get to 3,000 hits was Pujols in 2018, with Pujols taking a single the other way with the Angels against the Seattle Mariners.

MLB players with 3,000 hits, 500 home runs

Further narrowing down Cabrera's company, he will become the seventh player to get to 3,000 hits while also raking 500 home runs. Cabrera became the 28th player to get to 500 home runs last year in August against the Blue Jays.

PlayerHitsHome Runs
Hank Aaron3,771755
Albert Pujols3,308681
Willie Mays3,283660
Eddie Murray3,255504
Alex Rodriguez3,155696
Rafael Palmeiro3,020569
Miguel Cabrera2,999502

Triple Crown winners

There have been 12 Triple Crown winners in MLB history, with the crown going to players who lead their league in batting average, home runs, and RBI. Cabrera won the Triple Crown in 2012, becoming the most recent player to do so. Eight Triple Crowns have been won in the American League, whereas it's been done four times in the National League.

PlayerYear
Miguel Cabrera2012
Carl Yastrzemski1967
Frank Robinson1966
Mickey Mantle1956
Ted Williams1947
Ted Williams1942
Joe Medwick1937
Lou Gehrig1934
Jimmie Foxx1933
Chuck Klein1933
Rogers Hornsby1925
Rogers Hornsby1925

Of the 12 Triple Crown winners, Cabrera joins Yastrzemski and Robinson as the only players to win a Triple Crown and get to 3,000 hits.

Kevin Skiver

Kevin Skiver has been a content producer at Sporting News since 2021. He previously worked at CBS Sports as a trending topics writer, and now writes various pieces on MLB, the NFL, the NBA, and college sports. He enjoys hiking and eating, not necessarily in that order.