International Hit King

Major League Baseball's exclusive 3,000 Hit Club has a new member and he goes by the name of Ichiro Suzuki. The Japanese baseball sensation who will soon be 43 years old, continues to pile on the milestones long after his prime, with his latest accolade making him just the 30th player in MLB history to reach the 3,000 hit plateau. Re-signing a 1-year deal with the Miami Marlins in the offseason with a club option for 2017, Ichiro has served a limited role almost as a utility man, often coming in to pinch-hit or as the team's fourth outfielder. And with a large contingent of Japanese baseball writers following him on the road after he was unable to collect the milestone hit at home in Miami, it would be Denver's Coors Field which saw the future Hall of Famer etch his name into the record books as he legged out a triple off of Rockies pitcher Chris Rusin for hit No. 3,000.

Given Suzuki didn't make his MLB debut until the age of 27 due to his time in his native Japan, he became only the second player ever to reach 3,000 hits after his 27th birthday, joining Pete Rose as the only other player to reach that feat. He also joins Cap Anson and Rickey Henderson as the only players to record hit No. 3,000 after turning 42. With many doubting Ichiro could succeed in the MLB due to his frame which pundits declared was too fragile upon migrating from Japan to the U.S., Suzuki proved doubters wrong and silenced his critics by winning both the Rookie of the Year and MVP Award in his first campaign while a member of the Seattle Mariners. He would string together a record 10 consecutive seasons with at least 200-hits to begin a career before setting a single-season record with 262 hits in 2004, breaking George Sisler's mark of 254 hits which stood for 84-years. While 3,000 hits is Ichiro's most recent milestone, it's not the only milestone he's accomplished in 2016 as he stole his 500th base back in April which made him one of only eight players to have stolen 500 bags and collect 2,900 hits in a career. And then there's baseball's all-time hits list.

Back in June, Ichiro leapfrogged Pete Rose to become baseball's all-time hits leader when combining the hits he's accumulated throughout his career in both the Japanese League and Major League Baseball. Though it's been several months now since Ichiro connected for hit No. 4,257, one more than Rose finished his career with, it's interesting how little attention it's been given throughout the world of sports. While most critics aren't ready to dub Ichiro the "Hit King" just yet, given 1,278 of those 4,257 career hits came during his time in the Japanese League where the talent pool isn't quite up to par with that of the MLB. However, some would argue that the talent in Japan is just as good and that Ichiro does in fact deserve the crown. Had he played his entire career in the Majors, we likely wouldn't be having this discussion and Ichiro would be crowned without any debate from Rose or anyone else for that matter.

Breaking down the 3,000: Ichiro compiled 2,533 of his hits while a member of the Seattle Mariners whom he will one day represent in Cooperstown. Another 311 hits while spending 2+ seasons in New York with the Yankees, and the last 156 hits (and counting) with the Marlins.

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