Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera didn’t appear healthy while walking back to the dugout after his strikeout in the fifth inning Friday against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park.
Turns out, Cabrera injured his left bicep and will miss at least 10-14 days.
The Tigers placed the 39-year-old on the 10-day injured list with a left bicep strain. To take his spot on the roster, 28-year-old utility player Josh Lester has been called up from Triple-A Toledo for his MLB debut. The Tigers need to make a corresponding move to add Lester to the 40-man roster.
“We do want him to get some more at-bats this year,” manager A.J. Hinch said of Cabrera’s health after Saturday’s 12-2 loss. “We don’t know how long it’s going to take until the strength is back. That’s the biggest issue with a strain. But we’re hopeful he’s going to be able to get back in the batter’s box this year.”
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In Friday’s seventh inning, Cabrera was removed from the game and replaced by pinch-hitter Harold Castro, who delivered the game-winning RBI single. Before Saturday’s game, around 5 p.m., Cabrera had his left bicep examined by a doctor.
A ruptured left bicep tendon in June 2018 ended Cabrera’s season. That injury, sustained on a swing, required surgery.
The Tigers have restricted Cabrera’s workload since the beginning of August because of his chronic knee pain. He played back-to-back days twice last month: Aug. 1-2 against the Minnesota Twins and Aug. 30-31 against the Seattle Mariners.
Cabrera, a 20-year MLB veteran, is batting .256 with four home runs, 25 walks and 94 strikeouts in 102 games. Since July 28, Cabrera has a .088 batting average and .148 on-base percentage over 17 games.
He is earning $32 million this season, and his contract doesn’t expire until after the 2023 campaign. Cabrera, despite expressing uncertainty in early August, plans to play for the Tigers next season.
Lester, selected in the 13th round of the 2015 draft out of Missouri, is hitting .243 with 35 doubles, 25 home runs, 41 walks and 116 strikeouts over 125 games in Triple-A Toledo this season. Last year, he crushed 32 homers for Double-A Erie (84 games) and Toledo (25 games).
He was the No. 400 overall pick in 2015.