Watch: Yankees DH Alex Rodriguez blasts home run for 3,000th career hit
New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez picked up his 3,000th career hit on Friday at Yankee Stadium by hitting a home run on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first inning.
He is only the third player in MLB history to hit a home run for his 3,000th hit. The other two are former Yankees players Derek Jeter and Wade Boggs.
Rodriguez becomes only the fifth player in history to be a member of the 3,000 hit club and the 500 home run club. The others are Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, and Rafael Palmeiro.
The 39-year-old Rodriguez is the first to join the 3,000 hit club since Jeter did it on July 9, 2011.
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With the hit, Rodriguez tied Roberto Clemente for No. 28 on the all-time list. Next in line is Al Kaline, who finished his career with 3,007 hits.
The milestone isn't the only one Rodriguez has achieved during the 2015 season.
In May, he passed Hall of Famer Willie Mays for sole possession of fourth place on baseball’s all-time home run list with the 661st of his career.
On June 5, Rodriguez passed Barry Bonds for sole possession of second place on MLB's all-time RBIs list.
Rodriguez sat out the entire 2014 season for his role in the Biogenesis scandal.
The Yankees went on to win Friday's game 7–2, giving them their third straight victory and their fourth in their past six games.
- Will Green
