Padres’ Manny Machado reaches 2,000 MLB Hits: How close are Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Juan Soto?

On July 7, 2025, Manny Machado became the 305th player in MLB history to reach 2,000 career hits, further cementing his status as one of the most consistent hitters of his generation. The San Diego Padres third baseman, who debuted in 2012, achieved the milestone in his 14th season, adding to a résumé that already includes 300+ home runs and multiple All-Star selections.

Machado’s achievement reignites the conversation around which active stars could follow in his footsteps. Three elite hitters stand out: Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Juan Soto of the New York Mets. Though they differ in style and career arcs, each has posted elite numbers since debuting.

Here’s a look at where these three sluggers stand statistically through July 7, 2025, and a projection of when they could potentially reach the 2,000-hit mark—assuming health and consistency, according to MLB.com.

How close is Aaron Judge to 2,000 hits?

Since debuting in 2016, Aaron Judge has compiled 1,145 hits, 348 home runs, 816 runs scored, and 790 RBIs, with an OPS of 1.026. In 2025, he’s collected 119 hits and is batting .360 in what could be one of his best offensive seasons yet.

If he maintains an average of 150 hits per season, Judge is on pace to reach 2,000 hits by 2031, when he’ll be 39 years old. While that timeline may be affected by his injury history, Judge’s current form suggests the target is still achievable.

Will Shohei Ohtani get there despite his two-way role?

Shohei Ohtani has totaled 977 hits since his 2018 MLB debut. Though he spent several seasons splitting duties as a pitcher, since becoming a full-time hitter in 2024, his offensive output has grown considerably. He has 255 career home runs, 623 RBIs, 157 stolen bases, a lifetime batting average of .281, and an OPS of .950.

Assuming a pace of 140 hits per year, Ohtani could reach the 2,000-hit milestone around 2033, at age 39. While longer than others on this list, his remarkable versatility and star power make every season a chance to rewrite the record books.

Is Juan Soto the best bet to reach 2,000 hits first?

Juan Soto, now 26, has recorded 1,018 career hits since his debut in 2018. He holds a lifetime batting average of .283, with 222 home runs, 643 RBIs, 67 stolen bases, and an elite .949 OPS.

Given his youth and consistency, if Soto averages 160 hits per season, he could join the 2,000-hit club by 2031, at the age of 32—the youngest of the three by a significant margin.

How do their projections compare?

Player	Current Hits	MLB Debut	Hits/Year (est.)	Years Needed	Target Year	Age at 2,000
Aaron Judge	1,145	2016	150	6	2031	39
Shohei Ohtani	977	2018	140	8	2033	39
Juan Soto	1,018	2018	160	6	2031	32

Who has the best tools to get there first?

Juan Soto not only holds an age advantage but also continues to be one of the toughest outs in the MLB. If he stays healthy, Soto could not only be the next to join the 2,000-hit club—but do so significantly earlier than his superstar peers.