Miguel Cabrera made his spring debut for the Tigers Sunday. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
The Detroit Tigers received a double dose of good news Sunday when first baseman Miguel Cabrera and designated hitter Victor Martinez made their Grapefruit League debuts.
Serving as a designated hitter, Cabrera went 1-for-3 with a single as a Detroit split squad tied the Washington Nationals 7-7 in Lakeland, Fla. Meanwhile, in Kissimmee, Fla., Martinez also filled the DH role and finished 0-for-3 in the Tigers’ 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Cabrera had right ankle surgery in October, while Martinez underwent surgery Feb. 10 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Looking ahead to Opening Day, Cabrera said, “I’m positive (I’m) going to be there and Victor is going to be there. Hopefully, we can be 100 percent.”
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said having both sluggers for the April 6 opener against the Minnesota Twins, “I think there’s probably a better than 50 percent chance. If there are no setbacks and he’s able to play the majority of the (spring) games we have left, I feel like it’s better than 50-50 at this point.”
Cabrera could be back at first base this week.
“He’s moving pretty well taking grounders, so a few days of DHing — if everything goes well — there’s no reason he can’t play first in the not too distant future,” Ausmus said.
Cabrera, 31, hit .313 with a .371 on-base percentage, a .524 slugging percentage, 25 homers and 109 RBIs last year. While still impressive, his numbers were down from the previous two years, when he won back-to-back American League MVP awards.
Martinez, 36, hit .335/.409/.565 with 32 homers and 103 RBIs in 2014, and he finished second in AL MVP voting.
