The Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera joins 500 home run club is a major accomplishment for the Detroit baseball team. In this article, I will discuss how Cabrera has been able to hit so many home runs in his career.
Miguel Cabrera has officially joined one of baseball’s most elite groups.
Cabrera put a bow on his career by becoming the 28th member of the 500-homer club with a sixth-inning home run for the Detroit Tigers against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.
Cabrera, 38, connected on a 1-1 pitch from left-hander Steven Matz, blasting the ball over the right-center field scoreboard. The 400-foot homer drew the game to a 1-1 draw. In 11 innings, the Tigers won the game 5-3.
Cabrera circled the bases to a standing ovation from the 14,685 spectators in attendance at Rogers Centre. Following his teammates’ celebrations, the Tigers’ slugger exited the bench to receive a curtain call, removing his helmet and bowing to the fans behind Detroit’s dugout.
“To be able to accomplish this is something unique for my nation and my family,” he added. “”I’m overjoyed.”
On-deck player Jeimer Candelario was the first teammate to join Cabrera in celebrating.
“”I felt something amazing was going to happen and history was about to happen when he hit that ball,” Candelario added. “Being a part of it is a gift for me. It also assisted us in winning a game.”
Cabrera is the first Tigers player to achieve the milestone. Cabrera was invited to speak to the club after the game by Detroit manager AJ Hinch, and the slugger praised his teammates for their support.
“”I’m really happy of him and his family, and this is such a unique professional achievement that you may never have another chance to be a part of it,” Hinch added. “We have no clue who will be the next individual to pass this significant figure.”
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Cabrera took 31 at-bats between his 499th and 500th home runs, the third-longest such span in MLB history behind Jimmie Foxx (61) and Harmon Killebrew (43).
Cabrera, who is now in his 19th season in the majors, made his big league debut on June 20, 2003, when he blasted a walk-off home ball to dead-center field in the bottom of the 11th inning for the Florida Marlins in a 3-1 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Indeed, as a much-hyped 20-year-old, he was so good at the plate that by October of that year, he was hitting cleanup for the Marlins in the World Series. He is remains the youngest player to start a World Series game at cleanup.
Cabrera’s journey to 500 home runs has been lengthy. He had 446 at the conclusion of the 2016 season after hitting 38 that year, marking the tenth time he has surpassed 30 home runs. Since then, he hasn’t hit more than 16 in a season due to injuries and aging. His 500th home run came in the 13th inning of the 2024 season.
Cabrera is one of the finest all-around hitters among the 500-homer club. His.311 lifetime batting average ranks seventh among the 28 players, with just nine others hitting.300. His career adjusted hitting average is 19.2 percent higher than the league average, placing him third among club members behind only Ted Williams and Babe Ruth, and he won batting championships in 2011 (.344), 2012 (.330), 2013 (.348), and 2015. (.338). Manny Ramirez, Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, and Frank Thomas are the only other right-handed batters with 500 home runs and a.300 batting average.
According to ESPN Records & Info research, Cabrera’s four batting championships tie Williams for the most among members of the 500-home-run club, pending the addition of the Negro Leagues’ stats. Cabrera is also the only player of the team born in Venezuela.
Cabrera has also won two home run championships, topping the American League with 37 in his debut season with the Tigers after being traded from the Marlins in 2008, and 44 in 2012. Cabrera’s Triple Crown season was the first time a player has led his league in home runs, RBIs, and batting average since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. During the 2012 season, Cabrera earned his first of back-to-back MVP honors, defeating Mike Trout both times.
Cabrera’s career home run statistics are as follows:
• He has 41 games with two home runs and two games with three home runs. On May 28, 2010, he hit three home runs against Oakland, and on May 19, 2013, he hit three home runs against Texas.
• Cleveland has been his most afflicted club, as he has blasted 50 home runs against them.
• Phil Hughes was his most vulnerable pitcher, as he was hit seven times.
• He’s hit seven walk-off home runs, the first of which came against Al Levine in his debut game.
Cabrera’s next target is the 3,000-hit club, which has 32 members. Cabrera stated in spring training that he wanted to join both teams in 2024, and he needed 134 hits to start the season.
In February, he said, “I want to go to 500, 3,000 this year.” “It’s one of my objectives for the year.” Mentally, I’m in excellent shape. Mentally, I am in good shape. I’m trying to take it day by day and play hard.”
Cabrera seems to be on his way to missing that mark, as he now has 2,955 hits. He was on the injured list once this season, missing 13 games due to a biceps injury in April.
However, he is under contract until 2024, so he should arrive in early 2024. Only six players are members of the 3,000/500 club: Aaron, Mays, Albert Pujols, Eddie Murray, Alex Rodriguez, and Rafael Palmeiro.
This article was written with the help of the Associated Press.
Frequently Asked Question:
Who was the first MLB player to hit 500 home runs?
The first player to hit 500 home runs was Hank Aaron.
What MLB players have 3000 hits and 500 home runs?
Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Barry Bonds.
