2012 is Full of Milestones for A-Rod

The upcoming season brings us a bunch of milestones on the horizon for both the National League and the American League.  That said, there’s one guy out there that is a walking milestone tracker.

Alex Rodriguez.

The New York Yankees superstar has been creeping up all-time greatest lists for a while now and beginning next week, he continues his assault.

Alex Rodriguez needs just ten RBI to move into tenth place on the all-time list.  Should he reach 104 RBI and get to 1997 for his career, he’ll surpass Barry Bonds and be behind just Hank Aaron (2297), Babe Ruth (2213) and Cap Anson (2075).  Not a bad jump for a 36-year-old.

Assuming he can bounce back from his 2011 injuries, A-Rod will have a legit chance of passing Willie Mays and become fourth all-time on the home run list.  Rodriguez enters the season with 629 homers, one behind Ken Griffey Jr. and a mere 31 behind Mays’ 660.

In addition to his home-run and RBI milestones, the three-time MVP needs just five doubles to reach 500 for his career. When he hits that mark, he would become just the fifth player ever with 600 home runs and 500 doubles, joining the impressive company of Hank Aaron (755 home runs/624 doubles), Barry Bonds (762/601), Willie Mays (660/523) and Babe Ruth (714/506).

A milestone that no one talks about is A-Rod’s place on the all-time strikeout list.  Dude enters the season seventh all-time with 1917 whiffs.  With 88 Ks, he’ll reach 2004…and end the season fourth all-time.

Alex Rodriguez starts 2012 15^th all-time with 1824 runs scored.  After he crosses the plate for the 65^th time, Rodriguez will leapfrog into tenth place all-time.

2011 saw Alex Rodriguez with a career low 37 extra base hits.  With 40 extra base hits, he’ll move into 6^th all-time.

And because it’s already been announced that the Yankees thirdbaseman will be at WrestleMania 28 this Sunday, it warrants mention that his girlfriend, former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson, will be making her fourth WrestleMania appearance.  She appeared in the ring three times (at WrestleMania XX, 22 and XXV…yes, that’s what they’re called), but this year, she’ll be ringside in Miami live blogging the event.