Detroit Tigers legend Miguel Cabrera took a page out of Rickey Henderson's book during Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Kansas City Royals. In the seventh inning, Cabrera took off and stole third base, his first swiped bag since the 2020 season. His teammates were delighted. After the game, the reactions were priceless. First, Tigers manager AJ Hinch revealed his comical, two-word reaction when he saw Cabrera breaking for third, per Jason Beck of MLB.com.
Asked what went through his mind when Miguel Cabrera took off for third, A.J. Hinch said, “Holy shit.”
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) July 13, 2022
AJ Hinch is everyone when they saw Miguel Cabrera stealing third. It was probably the most oh-my-god-what-are-yo-never-mind-carry-on moment of the Tigers season so far. For all of the incredible offensive production in his career, Cabrera was never a base-stealer, having only swiped 40 bags in his career. That's what made it so shocking.
But that wasn't even the best reaction of the night. Cabrera himself revealed what was going on in his head right before the stolen base.
Miguel Cabrera: "Like Rickey Henderson said, 'When you go, you gotta go, and you go.' You don't think. When you go, you go. I always got it in my mind. Rickey said that, so you gotta do it."
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) July 13, 2022
Miguel Cabrera was inspired by Rickey Henderson, the MLB's all-time stolen base leader. Henderson was notorious for referring to himself in the third person. The Tigers star simply acted as Henderson did. “When you go, you gotta go, and you go.”
It's poetry. While a hilarious moment, Cabrera's stolen base was also pivotal to the Tigers' victory. On a night where he went 0-for-3, Cabrera still found a way to lead his team to victory, even making history in the process.
Cabrera passed Ken Griffey Jr. and moved into a tie with Ted Williams on the all-time RBI list. That is the essence of Miguel Cabrera.
Finding ways to help the team win. And being hilarious.
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