The countdown to 3,000 hits has been on since the season starts, but not necessarily for Adrian Beltre.
The Texas Rangers third baseman entered Wednesday 18 hits shy of the magical number, one that almost guarantees enshrinement into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. All Beltre knows is that he’s getting closer, and the pursuit is not weighing on him.
“Not yet. It’s still far away,” he said. “I don’t know when, but 18 hits is a long way to go. I’m guessing once it gets closer, maybe. Once I get into single digits, then it’s a more legitimate chance that I get there.