Ichiro Suzuki entered play on Friday with 3,994 career hits between the Major Leagues and Japan.
He collected 1,278 hits during his nine-year career in Japan.
While the stats aren't equivalent, Pete Rose (4,256) and Ty Cobb (4,191) are the only players in Major League history to reach 4,000.
"Recently, I was on an elevator with a neighbor of mine that lives just a story down from me who I've never met, and they said, 'Hey, you're 11 away,'" Ichiro said through an interpreter. "I was caught off guard. It's not like I'm thinking about it. I didn't quite know exactly the number, but that's how it is."