In my previous article, I wrote about the high-profile disappointments of the 2013 MLB season—players who were on fire last year but have since cooled off considerably. Periodic downswings are, of course, a natural part of a professional athlete’s career; there have only been a few players who have never had the term “slump” attached to their legacies. Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers is one of them.
Let’s start with some background: his lifetime stats. Over the 10 years leading up to this season, Cabrera has posted a season-long batting average below .300 in just three. He hit more than 30 home runs in eight of those years and drove in more than 100 runs in every season but his first. In 2012, he led the American League in batting average, RBIs and home runs, thus becoming the first Triple Crown winner since 1967. Cabrera’s stellar season was enough to earn him the American League’s MVP over Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who had a historic campaign in his own right. The man is simply amazing.
This year, it only took Miggy five games to reach a batting average over .300, and he hasn’t dipped below it once—he went four-for-four and hit three home runs in a recent game. It’s no surprise that Cabrera currently sits on the highest batting average in baseball, is only three behind the leader in home runs and leads both leagues in RBIs, causing many sports pundits to speculate that he may earn another Triple Crown this season. Keep in mind that it’s mid-May and we still have another three quarters left of regular-season ball. But that’s the persuasive power of Cabrera’s bat—each connecting swing is another reason why no intelligent critic would dare to dismiss his talent.
Cabrera has proven time and time again that he is one of the best active hitters in the majors, mainly due to his seeming immunity to cold streaks. He also thrives under pressure, hitting .299 with a two-strike count this year. On top of that, in situations with two outs and runners in scoring position, Cabrera is posting a ridiculous .600 average, making him one of the premier clutch performers in baseball. Although the Tigers were swept in last year’s World Series by the San Francisco Giants, there is a strong chance that Detroit, which also has power hitter Prince Fielder and pitching ace Justin Verlander on the roster, will be back to take on the National League’s champion this fall.
After turning 30 last month, Cabrera shed his status as a young hot shot—he’s officially a veteran of the game now. There really is no way to tell what the next 10 years will bring, but at the rate he’s hitting now, his #24 jersey should have a spot reserved in retirement alongside Al Kaline’s #6 and Hal Newhouser’s #16. Miggy is already in select company.