DETROIT – After several difficult seasons for Miguel Cabrera, the Detroit Tigers slugger has the chance to remind fans how much he has achieved in his career.
Specifically, Cabrera has the opportunity to reach two major milestones in 2021. He has 13 timid home runs of 500 and 134 shots under 3,000. And yes, he is aware of these numbers.
“I hope so. We can do both,” Cabrera said with a laugh on Friday. “I hope to reach 500, 3,000 this year. It’s one of my goals this year. Mentally, I feel good. I feel strong mentally. I try to walk every day and I try to play hard.”
It’s been a while since Cabrera looks like the player who was the American League MVP in 2012 and 2013. The last time he was really impressive with the bat was in 2016, when he hit .316 with 38 home runs. From 2017 to 2019, he played only 304 games, as an assortment of injuries limited his availability.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have entered a major rebuild, changing many of their top players. Cabrera, who turns 38 in April, is still on the team, which says a lot about his declining production and his huge contract.
Only half a dozen players hit both 500 homers and 3,000 hits: Hank Aaron, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Willie Mays, Rafael Palmeiro and Eddie Murray.
Cabrera definitely has a chance to reach both this year. He managed to play in 57 of his team’s 58 games in the shortened 2020 season and hit 10 homers. In 2019, he had 139 hits in 136 games.
“I want to be healthy and I want to do my best and I want to do everything I can to help the team win games,” Cabrera said on Friday.
Cabrera did not play on the field last year, but new manager AJ Hinch said he is open to playing some first base.
“He wants to play first. I didn’t know he expressed it almost as much as I found out after I even said it,” Hinch said. “My plan for him is to give him a chance to become a more complete player and not just fall into the DH category.”
Cabrera said he spoke with Nelson Cruz about some of his work habits – Cruz, 40, is still one of the most important players at home.
“I like to play baseball,” Cabrera said. “I like to have fun on the field. I like to go there every night.”