Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez picks up 1,000th career hit, drives in run vs. K.C. Royals

A milestone is a milestone, and Javier Báez reached one on Wednesday at Comerica Park.

In the bottom of the third inning, Báez stepped up to the plate for the Detroit Tigers with a runner on second and a 3-2 lead over the Kansas City Royals. With two strikes, Brady Singer threw him a breaking ball on the outside corner, and he reached and slapped it to left center for a base hit, scoring Kerry Carpenter and giving the Tigers a 4-2 lead.

It was Báez's 1,000th career hit and conveniently drove in a run, as well.

Báez is by nature a streaky hitter, but that has been especially true this year. Fortunately for the Tigers, he is in the midst of a hot streak right now, hitting .300 with two home runs over the last 12 games entering Wednesday.

MORE MIZE: Detroit Tigers' Casey Mize conquers 'another rung of that ladder' in climb to his return

For the season, he is hitting .234 with 64 strikeouts and 11 walks, as well as five home runs.

Báez, 30, is in the second year of a six-year, $140 million contract he signed before the start of the 2022 season, though the contract has an opt-out clause for the final two years.

The majority of Báez's 1,000 career hits came when he was with the Chicago Cubs, where he was a part of the 2016 World Series-winning team. Baez has 196 hits with the Tigers and had 50 with the New York Mets, with the rest coming with the Cubs.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Javier Báez gets 1,000th career hit vs. Royals