The Detroit Tigers missed their Miguel Cabrera in 2018. After a tough 2018 season, he is reportedly on track to join the team for Spring Training in Lakeland, Florida.
In 2018, the Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera missed all of May with hamstring issues. A few days after returning from the DL in June, he tore his left biceps tendon. He had surgery to repair it, then missed the rest of the season.
The team clearly suffered without Miggy in the lineup. He may not be the same hitter he was when he won the Triple Crown in 2012, but there is still something to be said about Cabrera approach the plate.
So, when he posted his video of his first batting practice since his surgery, Tigers fans finally had something to smile about. Cabrera’s caption, written in Spanish, translates into “First BP after six months of recuperation.”
The future Hall of Famer will be 36 in April and is set to make $30 million. The Tigers signed him through 2023 with two vesting options in 2024 and 2025. Unfortunately, Cabrera has suffered injuries that forced him to miss a significant part of the 2017 and 2018 seasons. After seven consecutive All-Star seasons, he was not invited in 2017 and 2018. Hopefully, he can get back to that form in 2019.
Along with the Instagram video, Cabrera recovery news has been positive. According to Evan Woodbery of MLive.com, during the Winter Meetings, Al Avila said:
"“He sent me a video a few days ago. He’s already swinging the bat really good. He looks really good physically. Right now, knock on wood, he’s coming into spring training full bore.”"
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Cabrera’s age and physical issues could put him at the DH position more often than not, according to Woodbery. The Tigers have other players who can man first base if Miggy become the daily DH. The legendary hitter has helped players like J.D. Martinez and Nicholas Castellanos remake their swings.
Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters that he plans to be cautious with Cabrera during Spring Training. Gardenhire reported that Cabrera might not play in every game in the Grapefruit League.
Cabrera has been working out with fellow Venezuelans Odubel Herrera and Alcides Escobar. Their workouts have been appearing on Instagram and on MLB Cut4.
Miguel Cabrera’s on-track recovery is good news for the Detroit Tigers fan base who clearly missed The Big Man in 2018. There aren’t many reasons to sit in the stands at Comerica Park in 2019, but a seeing a healthy Cabrera at the plate is always worth the price of admission.