Miguel Cabrera

Jose Miguel (Torres) Cabrera (April 18, 1983-) is one of the best pure hitters in the game of baseball, hit a walk-off home run in his first Major League game and helped lead the Florida Marlins to the 2003 World Series championship over the New York Yankees. The Florida Marlins signed Miguel in 1999 and debuted with the Marlins in 2003, becoming the second youngest Marlin in franchise history at 20 years old (Edgar Renteria was 19 years old in his debut.) Cabrera hit .268 with 12 home runs and 62 RBI in his first season finishing fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting to teammate Dontrelle Willis, but beginning a string of eleven consecutive seasons with MVP consideration. Miguel has been named to nine All-Star Game appearances, won five Silver Slugger Awards, led the league in batting average and on-base percentage three times and total bases, RBI, slugging percentage, doubles and home runs twice. He has played 12 years as a corner infielder with the Marlins (2003-2007) and the Detroit Tigers (2008-present). In 2012, Cabrera became the first Major League player since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 to capture the coveted and elusive Triple Crown as he led the American League in home runs (44), RBI (139) and batting average (.330). Had it not been for the 2013 power surge of Baltimore’s Chris Davis, who notched 53 home runs, Cabrera may have captured his second straight Triple Crown as he led the AL in batting average (.348), finished second in RBI (137) – one behind Davis’ 138 - and second in home runs (44) – nine behind Davis. After 5 Top-5 finishes in Most Valuable Player voting, he beat out rookie sensation Mike Trout to win his first MVP award in 2102. In 2013, Miggy, once again edged out Angels outfielder Mike Trout for the AL MVP award, becoming the first back-to-back winner since Chicago White Sox Frank Thomas in 1993 and 1994.