A-Rod homers to become 29th player in MLB history to reach 3,000 hits

Alex Rodriguez's improbable season has been defined by big numbers. He's now got his biggest one yet.

Rodriguez added to his increasingly long list of major achievements Friday, becoming the 29th player all time to collect 3,000 career hits after drilling an opposite field solo shot off Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander in the bottom of the first inning.

The historic hit - and 667th homer of his career - came on a first-pitch, 95-mph fastball that A-Rod smacked over the wall and just beyond the reach of J.D. Martinez in right field to put the New York Yankees in front 1-0. It's the fourth straight game Rodriguez has homered off Verlander and just the second time a player recorded his 3,000th hit off a former Cy Young winner.

"We've had some epic battles over the years," Rodriguez said on the YES Network broadcast following the Yankees' 7-2 win. "He's won most of them but I knew he would challenge me today and I was fortunate to get a good pitch and put a good swing on it."

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

A-Rod clapped and smiled as he rounded first base to a thunderous ovation, before pointing to his daughters after crossing home plate. He's the first player to reach 3,000 since former teammate Derek Jeter did it on July 9, 2011 at Yankee Stadium, and only the third player (Jeter, Wade Boggs) to reach the milestone on a home run, his 13th of the season.

"Its a magical number. I've been watching baseball and a lot of it ever since I was five years old, and 3000 is a special number," an emotional A-Rod said. "I'm very happy to be in the club, and I'm especially happy my two beautiful daughters were behind home plate to share in the moment."

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Several of Rodriguez's teammates emptied from the dugout to celebrate the moment with the controversial star. Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, and manager Joe Girardi were among those who embraced A-Rod as he retired to the dugout before re-emerging for a curtain call.

The Yankees recognized the milestone with a message on the video board that read: "Congratulations Alex 3000."

The hit represents the biggest number in a litany of milestones A-Rod's achieved this season, which began dramatically with his 660th career homer as a pinch-hitter at Fenway Park in early May and was followed by the Willie Mays-passing blast two weeks later at Yankee Stadium.

Since bumping Mays for fourth on the all-time home run leaderboard, Rodriguez has moved ahead of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Barry Bonds on the RBI list, and trails only Hank Aaron for most ever.

Related: Fan who caught A-Rod's 3,000th hit: 'My intention all along ... was not to give it back'

A-Rod's latest accomplishment puts the three-time MVP in even greater rarefied air. He's now the only player in MLB history with at least 3,000 hits, 600 home runs, 2,000 RBIs, and 300 steals.

Despite his 40th birthday looming next month, Rodriguez looks rejuvenated this season after serving an unprecedented 162-game suspension for his role in the Biogenesis steroid scandal. He entered play Friday with the team lead in average, doubles, and OBP while ranking second in homers, walks, slugging, and OPS.

Rodriguez, who hit a pair of singles in Thursday's 9-4 win over Miami, entered the at-bat 0-for-2 with a walk since notching hit No. 2,999.

"A year ago today, I didn't know if this day would come," he told reporters. "There were some really dark days. "Sometimes, I never thought I'd get the uniform back on."