A.J. Hinch has yet to manage the Tigers in a regular-season game, but he already knows what his predecessors learned about Miguel Cabrera and his love to play in the field.
“This is going to be a fun play here,” Hinch told Fox Sports Detroit on Wednesday during the Tigers’ Grapefruit League matchup with the Phillies, as Cabrera fielded a Darick Hall ground ball in the second inning and spotted Andrew Knapp between third and home.
By the time the play was over, Cabrera was across the infield at third base, having just missed out on a double play. He settled for an unassisted putout, having run down Knapp by himself.
Hinch, meanwhile, had another example how much more involved the soon-to-be 38-year-old Cabrera feels when he’s playing first base, instead of sitting in the dugout between at-bats as a designated hitter.
“Every time I put Miggy at first, he ends up in a rundown,” Hinch joked to play-by-play broadcaster Matt Shepard and Hall of Famer Jack Morris. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad.”
Asked how he feels about that, Hinch joked, “I feel really good right now that it’s over.”
Cabrera was notably energetic Wednesday before the play. Fox Sports Detroit cameras caught him grabbing first-base umpire Joe West for a picture together before the game.
Cabrera might not have the Triple Crown skills of his prime, but he still has a keen field awareness. When he fielded Hall’s grounder, he immediately turned to third and ran across the infield, just in front of the mound. He swerved toward home to guide Knapp back toward third, then tagged him when Knapp realized third was about to be occupied.
Cabrera, too, realized that Odúbel Herrera was breaking for third. He flipped the ball to shortstop Willi Castro, who was covering the bag. Herrera slid in around him, just ahead of the tag. Cabrera patted him on the back, likely to compliment him on his hustle.
The chance to play first base in some games this season has been a big motivation for Cabrera, who has been exclusively a DH since the middle of the 2019 season. Cabrera worked on his agility, leg strength and back during the offseason, in hopes of warding off the nagging injuries that have limited him the past few years.
Hinch, in turn, has been consistent in saying that Cabrera will get time at first, essentially calling it a timeshare.
“With Miggy playing there, whether it’s one or two or three times a week, that’s going to factor in [to roster decisions],” Hinch said Wednesday morning. “That automatically makes it not a permanent position for our team.”
That also opens up some starts at DH, which could allow Hinch to rest some of his infielders while keeping them in the lineup, or to start catcher Wilson Ramos there for some games.