Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera Still Nursing Back Injury
Detroit Tigers All-Star first baseman Miguel Cabrera is still being held out of the lineup with a back injury he suffered during the World Baseball Classic.
With Opening Day right around the corner, many are wondering about the status of Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera. During the World Baseball Classic, Cabrera suffered a back injury. The Tigers have not been in a hurry to rush him back into Grapefruit League action.
According to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News, Cabrera has begun to feel better and has been receiving “daily treatment” for his injury. The Detroit News also reported that Cabrera has said he will return to the field when ready. However, at this time, Cabrera isn’t ready to say for certain when that might be, leaving his status for Opening Day up in the air.
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Manager Brad Ausmus reportedly signaled that Cabrera might be able to play Friday at the earliest, but his name was not in the Tigers’ starting lineup against the Atlanta Braves this afternoon.
Before departing for the WBC, Cabrera played in seven Grapefruit League league games and hit .333/.400/.500. He played in six games in the WBC, going just 4-for-21 (.190), but he did have a homer and three RBI.
The Tigers will begin their season on April 3, when they visit Guaranteed Rate Field to take on the Chicago White Sox. Though there is now little time left for him to get a few extra at-bats and prepare for Opening Day, Ausmus told The Detroit News that if Cabrera can get back on the field next week, he should be in good shape.
“He’s got plenty of at-bats under his belt. As long as he can play part of next week, he’ll be fine.”
Cabrera, who will soon turn 34 years old, has battled several injuries in recent years. He underwent offseason surgeries after the 2013 and 2014 seasons, but has worked hard to stay on the field during the season. In the summer of 2015, Cabrera went on the DL for the first time in his career after suffering a calf strain.
Cabrera has played in over 148 games 12 times since the beginning of 2004. Last season, the two-time MVP and future Hall of Famer played in a team-high 158 games and hit .316/.393/.563 (157 OPS+) with 38 home runs and 108 RBI. He finished ninth in the AL MVP voting. Cabrera will enter the 2017 campaign with 2,519 career hits, 446 home runs and a lifetime .321 batting average.
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Detroit has the potential to have an explosive offense, but losing Cabrera for any length of time would clearly leave a big hole in the lineup.