Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera – More Than a Great Hitter

The Detroit Tigers future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera is not just a great hitter. He is a great baseball player.

In his ninth season with the Detroit Tigers, Cabrera is reminding fans that there is so much more to his game than the amazing home runs and .320 career batting average.

Something is just slightly different about The Big Man. Of course, he still has the power to all parts of the field, but he is running better and playing defense like a much younger and lighter man.

One stat to notice is his defensive WAR numbers. Yes, Miggy has had consistent positive offensive numbers in every year he has played. His defensive numbers – well, not so much. His best defensive WAR was in 2012 (his Triple Crown Year) when he had a -0.2. He played third base that year.

Good-ish Defensive Numbers

Right now, he has a -0.4 dWAR. While it’s not anything to write home about, it is not horrible – especially for Cabrera defensive standards. He usually ends the season with dWAR numbers around -1.0. His .996 fielding percentage is slightly better than the league average of .994. The big difference is how his movements at first base just seem easier.

Another noticeable defensive number is the defensive double plays he has been involved in, whether he is making the first out or the second one – the number currently stands at 104. For comparisons, Ian Kinsler has 95 and Jose Iglesias has 81. The most Miggy has ever had was in 2010 when he racked up 133. Last year, he only had 96.

The big difference is how his movements at his base just seem easier. He looks like he actually feels good when he is on first base. After several years of hoping Miggy won’t hurt himself playing defense, those worries have almost completely disappeared.

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Getting Serious at First Base

There is also a seriousness to his defensive play. In the past few years, he’s been more playful on defense, goofing with players on opposing teams and with fans. That silliness hasn’t shown up in 2016. Throughout the season, he appears to be all business.

Along with improved defensive play, Miggy has been looking faster on the base paths. He doesn’t look like he’s huffing and puffing when he legs out a double like he has in past years. His legs are moving well. I don’t have any statistics about his speed, but I know I’m not alone in my analysis.

Next: Jump on the Anibal Sanchez Train

I think that much Miggy’s improvement is due to weight loss. In previous years, Cabrera had a noticeable belly. Now, not so much. Even his baby face looks thinner. I haven’t seen him step on the scale and the Tigers continue to list his stats as 6’4 and 240 lbs, but he just looks lighter. This could be why he has had some subtle differences in his performances on offense – he just doesn’t have the same belly to help him knock balls out of the park.