Yankees' Rodriguez Passes Gehrig for Most RBI in AL History

With a three-run home run off Kansas City Royals pitcher Chris Young in the third inning of Wednesday's game, New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez recorded three RBI to total 1,995 in his career, surpassing Lou Gehrig's 1,993 for the most RBI in American League history, per MLB Milestones.

While passing Gehrig is a major accomplishment, Rodriguez benefited from starting at age 18, and his career has lasted much longer, spanning 21 seasons and 2,612 games to this point, compared to 17 seasons and 2,164 games for Gehrig, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Rodriguez missed all of 2014 due to a suspension linked to performance-enhancing drugs but has gotten off to a hot start since returning in 2015. Through 44 games this season, the 39-year-old is hitting .276 with 11 home runs and 26 RBI.

At his current pace, Rodriguez remains on track to surpass each of his single-season home run totals dating back to 2007, when he went deep 54 times. Considering his current pace (one home run per four games), he would finish the campaign with approximately 38 home runs, not a wholly unrealistic number.

The veteran also benefits from playing his first full season at the new Yankee Stadium, a ballpark that yields more home runs than its predecessor. While it's unlikely Rodriguez will continue on his current path, hitting 40 home runs doesn't appear out of the question, assuming he stays healthy.

On top of that, a Yankees team entering the season with unknown expectations currently sits atop the AL East standings nearly two months in, 1.5 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays. The club also expects Jacoby Ellsbury and Masahiro Tanaka to return at some point this season, further bolstering the Yankees' potential playoff profile.

Rodriguez remains at the center of the team's success, batting third on a consistent basis. While his exploits off the field have resulted in many fans disliking him, Rodriguez's performance on the field continues to cause headaches for opponents and their fans, as well.

While some may argue Rodriguez's checkered past takes away from his accomplishment, he's battled through adversity to post another successful major league season. Given his career thus far, the biggest question moving forward becomes whether he'll wind up in the Hall of Fame.