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LAKELAND, Fla. – Miguel Cabrera struck a pitcher on Monday for the first time since breaking off a left bicep tendon on June 12th.
The 35-year-old, who was touched, lined up, pitched and led the bases in the first spring training session for the Detroit Tigers.
"I'm happy to be back on the pitch and playing," said the AL MVP twice. "I can not be hurt this year, I want to do my job."
Cabrera first strained a hamstring last year, then suffered an arm injury that required late-season surgery. It was limited to 38 games.
"I missed the game a lot," he said.
He also missed 32 games in 2017 due to groin and back problems.
"A player injured in training changed the whole composition, changed everything," he said. "In the end, I have to stay healthy."
Cabrera is running and lifting weights. He looks like the same 6-foot-4 and 249-pound athlete with 465 homers with a batting average of .316.
"He's bouncing, doing all sorts of things," said manager Ron Gardenhire. "He's excited to leave, I think people forget how good he is when he's doing simple first-base practice."
Cabrera says he's not ready to be a full-time designated hitter.
"Right now, no," he said. "But if they talk to me and say something to me, I'm always open to everything, and if the team is better with me as DH, I'm the DH.If we're better with me at the first goal, I I'll play first. "
Gardenhire says the decision will be made by Cabrera's body.
"He would tell me before I tell him," said the manager.
The biceps is totally healed, according to Cabrera.
"I'm not worried about my arm, I'm more worried about my back and legs," he said.
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