Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera reached a major career milestone, hitting his 500th home run Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

That total puts him 28th on the all-time home run list behind Eddie Murray (504).

As he approached the 2021 season, this was one of two big benchmarks within Cabrera's reach. Now, the question is how long until he registers his 3,000th hit, with 45 standing between him and one of the more legendary offensive stats in baseball history.

The 38-year-old has fallen victim to Father Time in recent seasons. He slugged a then-career low .399 in 2017 before appearing in just 38 games the following season. The two-time MVP proceeded to finish with 12 home runs, 59 RBI and a .282/.346/.398 slash line in 2019.

Opening Day raised hopes of at least one more strong season from the future Hall of Famer as he homered in his first at-bat.

That was a bit of a mirage as he has a .246/.312/.375 slash line through his first 98 appearances.

Cabrera makes $32 million in each of 2022 and 2023 before the Tigers have an out thanks to his $30 million mutual option in 2024. Unless he retires or the team absorbs a lot of dead money, he isn't going anywhere before 2024.

As the last vestige of the franchise's four-year run of success that included an American League pennant in 2012, Cabrera remains a fan favorite in Motor City. Even in a diminished form, his presence makes the Tigers' general rebuild a little more tolerable in the short term.

Detroit Tigers broadcaster Jack Morris has been indefinitely suspended for using a racist accent on the air during a Shohei Ohtani at-bat in Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. 

In a statement released on Wednesday, Bally Sports Detroit cited its "zero-tolerance policy for bias or discrimination" to announce Morris' suspension:

Morris' comment came in the top of the sixth inning when Ohtani was coming up to bat. He was asked by play-by-play announcer Matt Shepard how the Tigers should handle the Angels superstar. 

"Be very, very careful," Morris said while using a mocking Asian accent. 

Before Ohtani's next plate appearance to lead off the ninth inning, Morris issued an apology on the air for his remarks: 

Well folks, Shohei Ohtani is coming to the plate and it's been brought to my attention, and I sincerely apologize if I offended anybody, especially anybody in the Asian community for what I said about pitching and being careful to Shohei Ohtani. I did not intend for any offensive thing and I apologize if I did. I certainly respect and have the utmost respect for this guy and don't blame a pitcher for walking him.

Morris is in his second stint as a color commentator for Tigers games. He previously worked for the Fox Sports Detroit on a part-time basis for two seasons from 2015-16. 

Fox Sports Detroit rehired Morris in January 2019 as one of two analysts, along with Kirk Gibson, to call Tigers games with Shepard. 

Morris spent the first 14 years of his playing career with Detroit from 1977-90.   

Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris, who currently works as a Detroit Tigers broadcaster, apologized for an accent he used while describing how to pitch Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani during Tuesday night's game.

Morris said in part: "I sincerely apologize if I offended anybody, especially anybody in the Asian community." Here's the full incident and apology, via Wood TV's Spencer Wheelock:

The 66-year-old Minnesota native pitched for the Tigers (1977-1990), Minnesota Twins (1991), Toronto Blue Jays (1992-93) and Cleveland (1994) during his playing career. He's since returned to work for the Tigers, Twins and Blue Jays as a color analyst.

Morris is in his second stint as part of the Detroit broadcast crew. He was rehired in 2019 after previously working for the team during the 2015 and 2016 MLB seasons.

His remark about Ohtani, a native of Japan, came before the Tigers intentionally walked MLB's home run leader in the sixth inning. Morris apologized when the two-way sensation returned to the plate in the ninth inning.

Neither the Tigers nor television network Bally Sports Detroit returned initial requests for comment on Morris from Kirkland Crawford of the Detroit Free Press on Tuesday night.

Ohtani, the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year and a 2021 All-Star, finished the game by going 1-for-3 with three walks in an 8-2 Angels win.

Los Angeles and Detroit have two matchups left on Wednesday and Thursday as part of a three-game series.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull threw the fifth no-hitter in Major League Baseball this season en route to leading his team to a 5-0 road win against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday.

Turnbull struck out Mitch Haniger swinging to cap an evening when he struck out nine and walked only two. He threw 24 first-pitch strikes out of 29 batters faced, per Rob Powers of News 5.

The 28-year-old started Tuesday by retiring the first nine batters before walking Jarred Kelenic to start the fourth.

No one else got on base until Turnbull walked Jose Marmolejos to begin the ninth. Turnbull then struck out Sam Haggerty before Marmolejos was called out at second after a Kelenic groundout.

Detroit catcher Eric Haase then hung onto a Haniger foul tip to finish the no-hitter, which is Turnbull's first and the eighth in Tigers history.

Seattle has now been on the wrong end of two no-hitters this year, as Baltimore Orioles southpaw John Means struck out 12 against the M's en route to tossing one on May 5.

The Mariners were nearly no-hit a second time on May 13 against Cleveland after Zach Plesac didn't allow a hit over the first seven innings. However, shortstop J.P. Crawford broke up that bid with a leadoff single to start the eighth.

Seattle is floating just under .500 at 21-22, but the M's are hitting just .199 as a team.

Turnbull joins a no-hitter list that includes Means, Cincinnati Reds left-hander Wade Miley, Chicago White Sox southpaw Carlos Rodon and San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove this season.

The modern-era record for the most no-hitters in a single season is seven, set in 1990, 1991 and 2012.

As for Turnbull, the Tiger right-hander is now 3-2 with 31 strikeouts, a 2.88 ERA and 0.96 WHIP this year.

No Venezuelan-born player has more hits than Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera.

Cabrera entered Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals one hit behind Omar Vizquel for the distinction and wasted little time surpassing the former shortstop. He moved into 43rd on the all-time list and first for Venezuelan-born players with an RBI single in the fifth.

His 2,878th career hit was his second RBI single of the game.

Vizquel played from 1989 until 2012 for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. He was a three-time All-Star who racked up nearly 3,000 hits but was better known for his glove than his bat as an 11-time Gold Glover.

Cabrera, by contrast, has always been known for his offense.

He has been in the league since 2003, playing for the Florida Marlins and Tigers. His impressive resume includes two MVPs, a triple crown, 11 All-Star selections, seven Silver Sluggers and four batting titles.

He is also 30th on the all-time list with 489 home runs and now has another accomplishment.

Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera reached another historic milestone Friday as his Hall of Fame career barrels towards 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. 

With two singles through four innings against the Minnesota Twins, the 38-year-old surpassed Babe Ruth's 2,874 hits for 45th all-time in MLB history. Cabrera is now three hits behind Mel Ott for 44th place.

The first baseman and designated hitter has the second-most hits of any active player behind only Albert Pujols (3,253 hits).

Cabrera's hit flew off the bat with a 101.5 mph exit velocity and struck the wall in right field, barely missing a home run by a few inches. The second hit was struck even harder, coming off the bat at 105.6 mph and spraying straight back up the middle for another base hit.

Cabrera has eight hits in 63 plate appearances to begin the year and remains 126 away from becoming the 33rd player in MLB history to reach the 3,000 mark. He needs just 11 more home runs to reach 500 and would become seventh player ever to accomplish both feats in their career. 

After an injury-riddled few years, Cabrera believes he can get there in 2021.

"I hope I can get to 500, 3,000 this year," Cabrera told reporters before the season. "It's one of my goals this year. Mentally, I feel good. I feel mentally strong. I'm trying to go day by day and trying to play hard.''

If he does, he'll join the likes of Hank Aaron, Alex Rodriguez, Albert Pujols, Willie Mays, Rafael Palmeiro and Eddie Murray. 

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera took exception Wednesday to Chicago White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal's accusation that Detroit was passing signs from second base during Tuesday's game between the two teams. 

Slavo Bekovic of NBC Sports Chicago relayed Cabrera's thoughts on the matter, noting that the Tigers slugger believed Madrigal was telling White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito and catcher Yasmani Grandal that Detroit was stealing signs:

"Come on, this is bulls--t. I don't play that game. You need to respect," Cabrera said. "... Get the f--k out of here."

Will Birchfield of 670 The Score provided more context, noting that Cabrera "began jawing with Madrigal during his next at-bat in the fourth" after hitting a first-inning homer en route to a 5-2 Tigers win.

Cabrera also added: "Everybody is paranoid about [sign-stealing] right now, but [the White Sox] are over the limit. They need to respect that because if we didn't say that, the next day we're going to be a hit by pitch or something like that. And we don't play that game, we respect the game."

Detroit was in Chicago to play a three-game series with the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field through Thursday. However, Wednesday's game was postponed due to inclement weather.

Sign stealing has been a prominent storyline in baseball since the 2017 World Series champion Houston Astros were found guilty of the practice en route to their title. Numerous punishments were doled out, including a one-year suspension for Astros manager A.J. Hinch, who was later fired. Hinch now manages the Tigers.

The 2018 Boston Red Sox (also World Series champions) were punished for sign-stealing as well, notably losing a second-round draft pick in 2020.

The Tigers-White Sox series hasn't been the only case where a team or player has been publicly accused of sign-stealing in 2021 either.

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was also accused of sign-stealing before his second home run off Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Trevor Bauer last Saturday, with Bauer notably publishing a video making the claim. The Padres denied the accusations.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera will co-chair the Protect Michigan Commission to spread awareness for the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Our goal with the commission is to get as many people vaccinated as possible, and I hope my support toward that end is successful," Cabrera said in a statement. 

Cabrera will promote the vaccine, mask-wearing and social distancing via public service announcements. Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin, who recently played for the Detroit Pistons, will also serve as a co-chair.

Nearly half of Michigan residents ages 16 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, per Beth LeBlanc of The Detroit News, who cited state data. More than a third of people are fully vaccinated.

Whitmer likely hopes partnering with Cabrera, a longtime star athlete in the state, will help ease some of the trepidation some have regarding vaccinations, saying: "We appreciate the tremendous support and advocacy from the Detroit Tigers because this is an all-hands-on-deck moment in our state's effort to persevere and overcome the pandemic."

The vaccination rate across the United States has begun slowing as most of those who were most eager to receive vaccination have at least begun the process.

Per LeBlanc, Michigan hopes to vaccinate 70 percent of eligible people in the state.   

Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a left biceps strain, via ESPN.com. 

The first baseman was replaced in the ninth inning of Saturday's loss to Cleveland.

Former Baltimore Orioles first baseman Renato Nunez was brought up to replace him. The 27-year-old hit 43 home runs over the past two years and signed with Detroit on a minor league deal this offseason.

Cabrera, who turns 38 on April 18, spent the offseason training for a return to first base after spending the shortened 2020 campaign as the Tigers' designated hitter. In that role, he led Detroit in RBI (35) and home runs (10) but hit just .250, the worst batting average of his 18-year career.

"I think (manager A.J. Hinch) is open-minded to give him some innings at first base," general manager Al Avila said in February, per Evan Woodbury of MLive. "From a health perspective, [Cabrera has] really worked hard and hopefully he does stay healthy. If he does, he does have the potential to continue to be a productive player."

Cabrera ended up seeing some time at first to start the season, while also playing in a designated hitter role. Through seven games, he slashed .125/.222/.292 with three RBI and a home run for the 3-5 Tigers. 

In 2019, he collected 59 RBI and hit 12 home runs with a .282 batting average, appearing in 107 games at DH and 26 at first base. His last action at first base came on June 26, 2019.

It was an impressive showing for Cabrera, who was forced out of the 2018 season with a ruptured biceps tendon in June after managing hip, back and hamstring injuries. He was limited to 38 games that season.

Cabrera is far removed from his best days of baseball, which saw him collect 11 All-Star selections in 13 seasons, but he's still an important piece of a Tigers group that is trying to follow up on a 23-35 campaign.

Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo had a dream start to his major league career.

The 22-year-old hit a home run on the first pitch he ever saw at the plate, drilling the Aaron Civale offering over the opposite-field wall:

Baddoo's parents were on hand for the celebration:

The 372-foot shot gave the Tigers an early 3-1 lead over Cleveland on Sunday as his team tries to stay undefeated after a 2-0 start to the year.

Not only was this Baddoo's first career game in the majors, but the center fielder had never played a professional game above Single-A and hadn't competed in a regular-season game since May 2019. The Tigers selected him in the Rule 5 draft this offseason after the Minnesota Twins left him unprotected.

A strong performance in spring training helped the youngster earn a roster spot, and he is now taking advantage of the opportunity.