Anthony Fenech isn't exaggerating -- well, not much -- when he writes in the Detroit Free Press: "Spring training doesn't really begin until Miguel Cabrera reports to camp."
For the first time since a season-ending injury last June, Cabrera walked into the Tigers clubhouse in a playing capacity, wearing a big smile when finally surfacing in front of the media just minutes before the team's first meeting of the season [Monday].
"It's been a long time since I've been on the field," he said. "I was excited. Being back on the field, I feel great. I feel good about being healthy this year. I feel I can do my job this year."
Miguel Cabrera on Monday: "It's been a long time since I've been on the field."
(Twitter photo: Detroit Tigers)
The sportswriter describes Miggy connecting with pitches from Matthew Boyd at batting practice in Lakeland, Fla., "after sitting on the couch holding a baseball bat for so long." Cabrera hasn't swung at live pitches since rupturing a tendon in his left biceps last June, ending his season after 38 games.
Nww prospects "looked a little bit star-struck" at the training camp, Fenech reports.
Rookie [catcher] Grayson Greiner was asked if it could ever get old, sharing the same field as Cabrera. “I got to hit after him. I'm going to be able to tell my kids about that." . . .
Cabrera brings a big presence with him, from fans to photographers to groundskeepers.
Chris McCosky, who's in Lakeland for The Detroit News, quotes manager Ron Gardenhire on the star's comeback:
"People forget how gifted he is. Just him doing simple drills at first base, throwing to pitchers covering, how he understands it, catches it, pulls the ball to his chest and makes a perfect throw every time.
"You forget because we didn’t have a chance to see him last year. . . .
"My job is to keep him healthy. His body is going to tell us what he can and can’t do. He will dictate the number of games he plays at first base. At 35, your body dictates that."
