Do you think Ichiro can get 3000 hits in his career?

He has a decent chance, although age may be a negative factor. He'll still need about 1,000 hits by the end of this season. Even if he continues raking up 200 hits a season, that's 5 more years at that pace. And that's without any significant injuries. One big injury and his chances could very well be shot.

Even if he doesn't reach 3,000 in 5 years, somehow I suspect he'll hang around long enough to do it. However, I'd sure not like to see him hang around JUST to do it.

Whatever his final hit total may be once he's got that 10th season on the books he'll deservedly secure his future election into the Hall of Fame.

They're just celebrating it for Ichiro, seriously take it easy. So ichiro has been playing in Japan and he comes over to MLB and becomes a Rookie and so you guys don't want to name him a Rookie? Its basically like a team calling up a player from Triple A to come play in the MLB, his first time in the MLB, hes a rookie. Eventhough regardless of how many years hes played in Triple A hes still a rookie. Or look at Josh Hamilton, hes still considered a ROokie :)

Although he already has 3,000+ hits, and the Japan record (combined with MLB), I do believe he can get 3000 hits in the majors. Ichiro has openly stated that he will play in his 40's and if he can post numbers anything close to what he's been posting for the past 8 years, then he'll be able to get 3,000 hits.

Edit: Yeah, I know that. That's why I said 'combined with MLB'.

He has already gotten 3000 hits if you add his totals from Japan. But since Japan doesn't count, he has to settle for 2000 for now.

I am not an Ichiro fan. He is a selfish player in the sense that he puts too much emphasis on his statistics rather than team success, that's why he never walks and insists to get on base by getting a hit, even from the leadoff spot. And ironically, that approach will almost guarantee him enough at bats to get to 3000 hits in the MLB.

Yes mainly for the reasons you have said. He is averaging over 200 hits per year which is phenomenal and if you hear sports announcers talk about him, they say he stays in amazing physical shape. With this, another 1000 hits should be nothing for him in the next 4-5 years. It also helps that he can get hits in different ways. He can easily get infield hits, bloopers, hard line drives, and he even has a little pop in his bat.

Yes, He's never had a really serious injury, he keeps himself in very good shape, and he has the desire for it.

It also helps his hit total that he really does not walk much (a high of 68 in 2005), and his relative lack of power means that it doesn't make much sense to pitch around him.

He may need another 6 or 7 complete years, but I expect it to happen. I think, in part, he wants to clearly be elected to the American Hall of Fame in baseball without any "help" from his years in Japan.

Ichiro is a really gifted player and I hope he does get 3000 hits in his MLB career. Though if he comes up short, I believe that MLB will recognize his overall accomplishments and induct him into the Hall of Fame.

I say yes. He hasn't shown signs of slowing down and if he plays until he is 42 or 43 I think he does it easily. Imagine how he would crush the hits record had he played in the USA his whole life.

Yes. If he had played in MLB for his entire professional career, starting in his early 20's, he would already have 3000 hits.

i doubt it for this fact: He will be 36 in October

the reason he will get his 2,000th hit in his 9th season is because his "rookie" year was after playing extensive Japanese professional baseball so he was able to reach these milestones with ease

he would be 41 or 42 in six or seven seasons, and it is incredibly difficult for a position player to play well into their late 30s and early 40s..decline will set in, injury will set in, and im sorry (love ichiro for his spirit and hustle) but he wont be reaching 3000 hits