| Full Name | José Miguel Cabrera Torres |
|---|---|
| Birthday | April 18, 1983 (age 39) |
| Born | Maracay, Venezuela |
| Height | 6‘4" |
| Position | First Baseman |
| Bats/Throws | Right/Right |
| MLB Debut | June 20, 2003 |
| Teams | Florida Marlins (2003-2007) Detroit Tigers (2008-Present) |
| Career Batting Average | .312 |
| Career Home Runs | 505 |
| Career Hits | 2,987 |
| Career RBIs | 1,843 |
| Awards | 2x AL MVP (2012, 2013) 11x All-Star (2004-2016) 4x AL Batting Champion (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015) 7x Silver Slugger Award (2005, 2006, 2010-2013, 2015) |
| @MiguelCabrera | |
| @miggy24 |
As a lifelong baseball fan, I‘ve been fascinated by Miguel Cabrera‘s incredible career since I first saw him bursting onto the scene as a rookie phenom with the Florida Marlins. Now entering his 20th MLB season at 39 years old, Cabrera has solidified himself as one of the greatest right-handed hitters in baseball history. Let‘s take a look back at the storied career of this future Hall of Famer.
Humble Beginnings in Venezuela
Cabrera was born on April 18, 1983 in Maracay, Venezuela. His immense talent was evident from a young age. His grandfather played professional baseball in Venezuela and his father, Miguel Sr., coached him on the fundamentals of the game. The Marlins took notice and signed 16-year-old Miguel as an amateur free agent in 1999.
Rapid Rise Through the Minor Leagues
The Marlins wasted no time challenging their prized prospect. Cabrera rocketed through their minor league system in just two and a half seasons. At the Double-A level in 2002, he batted .365 with 34 home runs and 101 RBIs in just 112 games. Cabrera made his MLB debut on June 20, 2003 at just 20 years old and became a permanent fixture in the Marlins‘ lineup down the stretch.
World Series Champion as a Rookie
In his first full MLB season, Cabrera helped lead the Marlins to an improbable World Series title in 2003. The rookie third baseman batted .268 with 12 home runs and 62 RBIs while playing solid defense. Cabrera collected six hits in the World Series against the New York Yankees as the Marlins won their second championship.
Emergence as a Superstar Slugger
Over the next few seasons in Miami, Cabrera blossomed into a legitimate superstar. In 2005 at just 22 years old, he led the NL with 126 RBIs. Cabrera made his first of 11 All-Star teams in 2004 and went on to earn four straight All-Star selections from 2004-2007. He also captured two Silver Slugger Awards in this stretch. In 2007, he claimed his first NL batting title with a sizzling .339 average.
Blockbuster Trade to the Tigers
Following a successful 2007 season, Cabrera was shipped to Detroit in a blockbuster trade. Miguel teamed up with sluggers like Magglio Ordoñez and Carlos Guillen to give the Tigers a fearsome middle of the order. As Detroit‘s new cleanup hitter, Cabrera averaged 36 home runs and 124 RBIs across his first four seasons with the Tigers.
First MVP Award in Historic Triple Crown Season
Cabrera‘s mesmerizing 2012 campaign goes down as one of the best offensive seasons of all time. He etched his name in the record books by winning the elusive Triple Crown, leading the AL in batting average (.330), home runs (44), and RBIs (139). For this historic feat, Cabrera was the runaway winner of AL MVP. He became the first player since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 to lead his league in all three categories.
Back-to-Back AL MVPs
Cabrera followed up his Triple Crown MVP season by putting up nearly identical numbers in 2013 – batting .348 with 44 HRs and 137 RBIs. He edged out Mike Trout to become just the 16th player ever to win back-to-back MVP awards. By this point, Cabrera had clearly established himself as the best pure hitter in the game.
Late-Career Milestones
In 2016, Cabrera captured his seventh career batting title with a .341 average, joining Ty Cobb as the only Tigers ever to lead the AL at least seven times. The following season, he blasted his 400th career home run. And in 2021, Cabrera became just the 28th player to reach 500 career homers. He is less than 15 hits shy of 3,000 for his career – a milestone he will likely reach in 2023.
What Makes Cabrera Special
- Rare combination of elite contact ability and tremendous power
- Uses the whole field – not just a dead pull hitter
- Incredible plate discipline and pitch recognition
- Dominant right-handed hitter with smooth, compact swing
- Hits for both average and power even when injured
- Clutch performer who rises to the occasion in big moments
Cabrera‘s Legacy
With 11 All-Star appearances, two MVPs, seven Silver Sluggers, and a Triple Crown, Miguel Cabrera is a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer. His sustained run of dominance in the heart of the Tigers‘ order has been simply astounding. Cabrera is one of the most feared right-handed hitters the game has ever seen and his incredible career is still going strong. It has been a privilege watching Cabrera terrorize pitchers for the last two decades.
