Miguel Cabrera becomes 33rd member of 3,000-hit club

Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera has become the 33rd member of Major League Baseball's 3,000-hit club.

The 39-year-old achieved the milestone in his first at-bat Saturday with a one-out single off Colorado Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela.

Cabrera becomes the seventh player in major-league history to record 3,000 hits and 500 home runs, joining Hank Aaron, Albert Pujols, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Alex Rodriguez, and Rafael Palmeiro.

The 11-time All-Star reached the milestone in vintage fashion, lacing the pitch 86 mph into right field on the third offering he saw from Senzatela.

Following the achievement, other members of the 3,000-hit club welcomed Cabrera to the exclusive group.

"Congratulations to Miguel Cabrera on his 3,000th-career hit!" Tigers chairman and CEO Christopher Ilitch said in a statement. "I've been proud to witness Miggy's amazing and historic 3,000-hit and 500-home run milestones, putting him among a select few MLB legends.

"I thank Miguel for a career of exciting, Hall of Fame-caliber play toward our objective of championship baseball for Tigers fans. Miggy has, and continues to build, his status as one of the greatest Tigers of all time."

The Miami Marlins also shared their congratulations on Cabrera's incredible accomplishment. Cabrera spent the first five campaigns of his career with the then-Florida Marlins, racking up 842 hits in 720 games.

Cabrera's single was part of a banner first inning for the Tigers. They brought nine men to the plate and scored four runs, highlighted by rookie first baseman Spencer Torkelson's three-run homer.