Miguel Cabrera

José Miguel Torres Cabrera (born April 17, 1983 in Maracay, Aragua State, Venezuela) has been a Major League Baseball player for the Florida Marlins since the 2003 season. He bats and throws right handed.

Related Topics:
April 17 - 1983 - Maracay - Aragua State - Venezuela - Major League Baseball - Florida Marlins - 2003

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Cabrera's athleticism is evident in the fact that the onetime shortstop can play a number of positions --third base, left field and right field, and play them well. That's an unsettling thought for opponents, considering how well he played in his rookie season after a call-up from the Double-A Carolina Mudcats.

Related Topics:
Shortstop - Third base - Left field - Right field - Double-A - Carolina Mudcats

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In his majors debut on June 20, 2003, Cabrera hit a game-ending, game-winning home run. Quietly, he put together one of the best seasons by a National League rookie. Cabrera showed why he can become a household name sooner rather than later. His postseason play helped propel Florida to a World Series championship over the Yankees, landed him on the cover of ESPN magazine during the offseason.

Related Topics:
National League - World Series - Yankees - ESPN

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In the NLDS against the Giants, Cabrera hit .286 with three RBI. After changing positions in the heat of the NLCS against the Cubs, and hit .333 with three homers and six RBI, Cabrera had the at-bat that defined his postseason in the Game Four of the World Series. Facing Roger Clemens for the first time, Cabrera, 20, got knocked down by one inside fastball. Two pitches later, he belted the Clemens offering into the right-field seats.

Related Topics:
NLDS - Giants - NLCS - Cubs - At-bat - Roger Clemens - Fastball

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In his first season Cabrera batted .268 (84-for-314), with 12 home runs, 62 RBI, 39 runs, 21 doubles, and three triples in 87 games played. In 2004, he proved that his rookie season --.294 batting average, 33 homers, 112 RBI, 101 runs, 177 hits, .366 on base percentage, .512 slugging average from the third and fourth spots in the order, 160 games played, and an All-Star berth-- was no fluke. That results were very close to his true level of ability, and he should have others like it.

Related Topics:
Runs - Doubles - Triples - Games played - On base percentage - Slugging average - All-Star

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