Miguel Cabrera One of Several Detroit Tigers Reporting Early to Spring Training

Feb 20, 2012; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera during workouts at Joker Merchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Pitchers and catchers aren’t due to report to the Detroit Tigers’ Lakeland Spring Training facilities until Thursday – and position players not until next Monday – but several players have already reported to continue their individual workouts.

Among those players is two-time MVP award winner Miguel Cabrera, who will be hoping to prove that he has no lingering effects from the core muscle tear he suffered last summer and the surgery he had this fall to repair it.

According to Jason Beck of MLB.com, the list of Tigers already in Lakeland includes Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello, Anibal Sanchez, Drew Smyly, Phil Coke, Duane Below, and Alex Avila. Pitching coach Jeff Jones is reportedly there as well, and manager Brad Ausmus is due to arrive today (and Max Scherzer possibly as well).

I would never fault a player for showing up on time to Spring Training, but is sure is nice to start seeing pictures of baseball players doing baseball-like things in baseball stadiums. It’s almost enough to melt the snow off my cold, frozen heart. If only we had temperatures in the 70-degree range here in Michigan.

The Tigers will being their exhibition slate on Tuesday, February 25 with their traditional game against Florida Southern College with their first Grapefruit League game coming the following day.