Jose Altuve just collected his 2,500th hit; can he get to 3,000? Does his Hall of Fame case need it?

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve doubled in the third inning Wednesday night during a four-run Houston rally in what would eventually be an 11-7 Phillies win. The double was important, though, in terms of individual history: it was the 2,500th hit of Altuve's career.

The 2,500 milestone isn't generally a huge one, but rather more of a marker on the way to perhaps a bigger milestone — one that usually lands players in Cooperstown. Altuve sits 103rd in MLB history in hits right now, but the herd thins north of this spot. Only 56 players have gotten to 2,750. Then there's the hallowed 3,000-hit club.

Only 33 players in history have gotten there. Everyone to reach 3,000 hits is in the Hall of Fame, other than the special exceptions Pete Rose (previously banned), Albert Pujols (not yet eligible), Miguel Cabrera (not yet eligible), Alex Rodriguez (PED ties) and Rafael Palmeiro (PED ties). Pujols and Cabrera are headed there soon enough and it wouldn't be surprising to see Rose admitted now after his ban was lifted.

Altuve's interesting here because there's a black eye on his résumé, too, in the baggage from the 2017 sign-stealing scandal. He won MVP that season.

Original source: https://www.cbssports.com/