Milestones behind him, Miguel Cabrera hopes for fun final year

LAKELAND, Fla. — Two years in the past, Miguel Cabrera hit his five hundredth dwelling run, and final season he reached 3,000 hits.

Now there’s another reason for an prolonged celebration of the Detroit slugger’s profession.

This is his remaining yr.

“I’m going to go out there and be me. Try to have fun, try to go out there and, when they give me a chance to play, play. I don’t know what is going to be my role this year,” Cabrera said. “If I can hit, I want to be in the lineup.”

Cabrera sounded relaxed together with his resolution to name it a profession when he spoke at spring coaching Monday, joking with reporters in his common playful manner and insisting he doesn’t want opponents to lavish him with consideration. That will doubtless come whether or not he desires it or not.

“I brought him up in the first meeting, so that tells you that I didn’t listen to his desire to not be talked about,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “We’re going to cherish our time with Miggy. We’re also going to let him be a player, a contributor, and just be himself.”

Two a long time after his massive league debut as a 20-year-old Florida Marlin, Cabrera says he doesn’t bear in mind a lot about his first spring coaching — “I have a better car right now” — however he’s hoping for a wholesome season and extra wins for Detroit.

The Tigers haven’t made the playoffs since 2014, and Cabrera hasn’t had a extremely glorious season since 2016.

Still, baseball was captivated a yr in the past when Albert Pujols managed to hit 24 dwelling runs in his final season, surpassing 700 for his profession.

Don’t anticipate an analogous chase from Cabrera, if solely as a result of he handed so many milestones so lately. He enters this season with 507 homers, 3,088 hits and 607 doubles — to not point out a .308 profession common.

“It’s been a thrill to have the ability to observe him. I really feel privileged to have an opportunity to observe him play days in, day trip for thus a few years, and the enjoyment that he introduced us,” stated Dave Dombrowski, who’s presently the president of the Philadelphia Phillies however ran Detroit’s entrance workplace when Cabrera received the Triple Crown and the primary of two straight MVPs in 2012.

Dombrowski, who was additionally with Florida when the Marlins signed a teenaged Cabrera in 1999, says he nonetheless exchanges texts with him when he accomplishes one thing massive. There’s actually loads of respect for Cabrera across the sport.

Cabrera performed in 112 video games final season. He stated Monday that he feels good bodily, however he joked that he’ll have to attend and see how he feels after an 0-for-4 day on the plate. He made it clear that he’s not anticipating opponents to roll out the pink carpet for him as his enjoying profession winds down.

“It’s nice if they do something. It’s nice if they don’t,” he said. “I don’t want attention, I don’t want any distraction for our team. We look forward to go out there and beat these guys.”

Hinch and the Tigers, nevertheless, wish to get pleasure from this remaining season with him. Cabrera could also be within the highlight earlier than common, since he’s on Venezuela’s roster for subsequent month’s World Baseball Classic — together with Detroit left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez.

“It’s just going to be something special,” Rodriguez said. “It’s his last year. We’re going to go to play together in WBC for our country and then play the last season in MLB together. I know it’s going to be great and I can’t wait to enjoy it.”

More from Sportsnet

Rob Manfred talks regional networks, rule modifications as MLB camps open

Elvis Andrus to play 2nd base with White Sox

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper {
show: grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr);
hole: 20px;
}

.acf-block-preview .br-related-links-wrapper a {
pointer-events: none;
cursor: default;
text-decoration: none;
shade: black;
}