Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera out again today, but his debut is nearing
TAMPA, Fla. — Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera will make his 2021 Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday in Lakeland, manager A.J. Hinch said.
Cabrera is the only healthy and fully cleared Tiger who has not yet appeared on a lineup card.
He’s not making the trip to play the New York Yankees on Monday afternoon, nor will he accompany the team to Bradenton on Tuesday to play the Pirates.
But Hinch said that was according to plan, and Cabrera will get his first at-bats at designated hitter on Wednesday. At some point, he’ll also get some reps at first base, although not at the outset of camp.
Hinch said Cabrera got seven innings worth of “live at-bats” on Sunday, even though it wasn’t in a game setting. He’ll do the same on Monday in a live BP back in Lakeland while his teammates are in Tampa.
The Tigers’ game against Pittsburgh will only be five innings on Tuesday. Early spring training games are set for seven innings, and teams can adjust that down to five innings by mutual consent. Hinch said the change was by the Pirates’ request.
Infield prospect Spencer Torkelson, who has missed the start of camp after slicing his finger during a can-opening mishap, will be on the travel roster for Tuesday, Hinch said.
Young third baseman Isaac Paredes has also been cleared and will likely make his Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday.
As for other late arrivals, Hinch said outfielder Nomar Mazara is in Lakeland and shouldn’t be too far away from getting cleared.
Isaac Paredes is active and will also make his debut in Wednesday’s game. Late arrival Nomar Mazara is probably not far away. Outfielder Victor Reyes, second baseman Jonathan Schoop and first baseman Renato Nunez are still a few days away due to travel, visa, medical intake issues or some combination of the three.
The Tigers face Yankees ace Gerrit Cole on Monday in Tampa, and he’ll provide a tough test for Tigers prospect Riley Greene, who is making his first start. The full lineup is below.
