Tigers: Miguel Cabrera has serious 2014 vibes and that’s great for Detroit

The Detroit Tigers first baseman is feeling good heading into the 2021 regular-season.

The Detroit Tigers are coming off back-to-back seasons where they have finished in last-place in the AL Central. This year, they are hoping to make a slow climb up the standings with a new manager leading the way in A.J. Hinch. But if there is one consistent presence on the 2021 roster, it is first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

Within the first month of the regular-season, Cabrera is set to turn 38 years old. But how exactly is he feeling in spring training? Well, Cabrera himself says he feels as great as he did during the 2014 season.

“Right now, I feel like I did back when I was in 2014,” Cabrera said Friday, via Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. “I feel more like when I was healthy, with my legs, my hips. I can move my body when hitting. I don’t try to do too much. I swing naturally. I think that’s going to help me a lot this year to produce more and hit for more power.”

Tigers: Miguel Cabrera confident he will hit 2014 form in 2021

Feeling like he did back in 2014 is great to hear from Cabrera himself. The 18-year veteran has dealt with a variety of injuries since 2017, including knee and back issues. A healthy Cabrera will no doubt make Tigers fans happy.

In the 2014 campaign, Cabrera slashed .313/.371/.524 while recording 25 home runs, 109 RBI and 191 hits. The first baseman led the league in doubles (52) and sacrifice flies (11). Cabrera was named to the All-Star Game that season and finished in ninth-place in AL MVP voting.

Cabrera is coming off a 2020 truncated campaign where he missed all of three games, and recorded a .250 batting average, a 746 OPS, 10 home runs, 35 RBI and 52 hits. But he did that solely as a designated hitter.

Considering Cabrera is feeling the best he has in nearly seven years, it will be interesting to see if he gets any playing time at first base. Regardless of what position he plays, a healthy Cabrera should do wonders for the Tigers as they look to emerge from the cellar of the AL Central.