Could Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera return to playing first base? Under new manager A.J. Hinch, it’s a definite possibility.
Speaking at the end of last season, Cabrera reiterated his desire to return to playing first base.
“I miss a lot playing first base,” he said at the end of September. “I hope they can give me more time to play first. I need to be in the field. I’m learning to be a DH right now, but it’s hard for me to go hit and go sit and just think about what I’m going to do for the next at-bat.”
For Hinch, Cabrera playing first base – at least part of the time – would improve the team.
“I’d like him to play first base, certainly part of the games,” Hinch said Wednesday. “Freeing up the DH is important. Keeping Miggy on the field and keeping him healthy is going to be the priority. We got to make sure he is healthy and can handle the first base position in a certain amount of games per week.”
In 57 games played during the shortened 2020 campaign, Cabrera hit .250 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs.
“When I look back on my career, when I’m done managing, they (Houston’s Jose Altuve and Cabrera) will be both near the top of my list of incredible players that I’m going to get to be around and manager,” Hinch said. “Not everybody gets to manage icons like that.”
– – Quotes via Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press Link – –
It all depends on how Miggy takes care of himself as the season wears on. A lotta times he reports to spring training in great shape but by mid-may he’s already putting on weight. Then again, when your strength and conditioning coach weighs about 350 it looks like they are on the same diet.