Miggy propels Tigers on 'one of the most special days of my career'

MIAMI -- On a late July afternoon at loanDepot park, with the Marlins in the hunt for a Wild Card spot, the biggest cheer from a crowd of over 30,000 celebrating Venezuelan Heritage Day was for none other than Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera.

The last time the ballpark housed a crowd as large and loud as it did Saturday afternoon was in March, when it played host to the World Baseball Classic.

As Cabrera stepped from the on-deck circle to the batter’s box for his first at-bat of the game in the top of the second inning, a tidal wave of applause and cheers echoed across the ballpark, reverberating off the closed roof as the crowd’s exuberance refused to be contained. The atmosphere felt electric, as if there was static energy in the air, fans young and old alike waiting with bated breath for what Cabrera might do.

Of course, a notorious opposite-field hitter, Cabrera roped the second pitch Johnny Cueto threw him -- a fastball middle-away -- into the right-field corner for a ground-rule double. The crowd, which had fallen silent, roared back to life as soon as Cabrera made contact.

“It's like playing at home -- like playing in Maracay or somewhere [else] in Venezuela,” Cabrera said. “It was nice. … I'm glad [Cueto] threw me a fastball right there.”

Cabrera’s double set up Akil Baddoo for a three-run homer two batters later, giving the Tigers an early lead en route to a 5-0 shutout win to even the series.

“It was crazy, man,” Baddoo said of the atmosphere. “Just showed how great Miggy was in his career, and to have all his family and the Venezuelan love there -- it was pretty amazing. I was just living it up and breathing it all in.”

The matinee was the latest in a weekend filled with buzz in Little Havana as Cabrera, in a sense the Marlins’ prodigal son, returned to the city in which his career began for a final time. Miami honored Cabrera prior to Friday’s opener, and the party continued on Saturday as a bevy of Venezuelan greats took the field and Cabrera’s childhood hero Dave Concepcion threw out the first pitch. Cabrera was among those honored, and the Mayors of Miami-Dade County and the cities of Miami and Doral proclaimed that July 29, 2023, would be remembered as Miguel Cabrera Day.

The cheers continued throughout the afternoon. Cabrera grounded out to third base in his second at-bat, then struck out in his third.

But it wouldn’t be like Cabrera to go out without a bang (though he should start the finale on Sunday). Greeted with yet another ovation as he stepped to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning, Cabrera smacked a single back up the middle. Jake Rogers pinch-ran for the DH, and Cabrera made the walk back to the dugout with his helmet held high as the crowd rose to its feet and applauded one of the most iconic Venezuelan players in baseball history.

“When he stepped to the plate for his last AB and everyone's standing, it was just like -- I got chills looking at it,” Baddoo said. “I'm just glad to be a part of it, and just live it up and see it.”

This season, Cabrera’s last before retirement, has been a victory lap of sorts. He’s received honors and presents each time he’s played his final series in a city, all the while never slowing down -- sans an extra rest day here or there. It was no different in Miami. The Tigers fed off the energy that pulsed through the ballpark as Cabrera was celebrated. They pounced on the Marlins first and set the tone, in large part thanks to Cabrera and the energy he magnified.

“Obviously when Miggy got up every time it was amazing,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “I really appreciated how consistent they were with him and made his day special. We played well, got a shutout -- it was a good day all the way around, and the environment kickstarted it.”

“Yeah, it was a perfect game,” Cabrera said. “Winning, [going] 2-for-4 -- glad to see my hero. It’s going to be one of the most special days in my career.”