Miguel Cabrera named special assistant to Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations
Miguel Cabrera isn't leaving the Detroit Tigers.
After Sunday's final game, Cabrera will begin his new role within the organization as a special assistant to the president of baseball operations. The Tigers announced Cabrera's impending career change — from player to special assistant — before Friday's series opener against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park.
"Lessons like how to deal with praise and pressure are exactly what we want him teaching players throughout our organization," Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Friday in a statement. "I'm honored to have him as part of our staff and know he will continue to make the Tigers better in his new role."
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Cabrera, 40, will retire Sunday after the 2023 season.
The 12-time All-Star has 3,170 hits and 511 home runs, plus a .306 batting average, with three games remaining in his 21-year playing career. Cabrera ranks 16th in hits and tied for 25th in home runs on MLB's all-time lists.
"It's been incredible to watch Miggy passing names on the all-time leaderboards, but even more impressive to see how he's handled the attention behind the scenes," Harris said. "It's no secret that the personal spotlight isn't super comfortable to Miggy, and there's something to be said about the humility he carries each and every day even when fans across the league are chanting his name while wearing another team's jersey on their backs."
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Cabrera, who came from Venezuela and signed to play professional baseball in July 1999, spent five seasons with the Florida Marlins (2003-07) and 16 seasons with the Tigers (2008-23).
He will join five other Tigers with special assistant roles: Kirk Gibson, Willie Horton, Jim Leyland, Lance Parrish and Alan Trammell. Trammell, who played 20 seasons for the Tigers, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
"My father (Mike Ilitch) was incredibly fond of Miggy and made sure he was a Tiger for the remainder of his playing career," Tigers chairman and CEO Christopher Ilitch said Friday in a statement. "We're thrilled to extend our relationship into the next chapter of his life. While it may be the end of an era, it's a new beginning as Miguel will continue to pass along his baseball wisdom, culture-shaping values, and mentorship to the next generation of Tigers players, who can aspire to the level of greatness that Miguel has achieved."
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Miguel Cabrera's new job: Special assistant to Detroit Tigers' Scott Harris
