Even when he's not 100 percent, reigning American League MVP Miguel Cabrera is putting up great numbers, but the Detroit Tigers first baseman revealed he isn't fully healthy.
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Cabrera revealed that he has yet to fully recover from a groin tear he suffered at the end on the 2013 campaign.
"There are times when I feel good, but there are always muscles that are tightening, muscles that are not functioning properly," the Detroit Tigers slugger told USA Today. "It's part of the process."
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Cabrera will not get the four-day rest that some of his teammates will receive during the All-Star break as he will bat cleanup for the American League All-Stars on Tuesday night at Target Field in Minnesota despite not being completely healthy.
Despite his ailments, Cabrera earned his slot on the All-Star team by hitting .306 with 14 homers and leading the AL with 75 RBI in the first half of the season. However, his 14 homers aren't even half of his total at this point in 2013, when he launched 30 by the break.
Cabrera, who is also first in the AL with 34 doubles and third with 117 hits, said his injury woes are similar to that of Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, who has struggled this season and is 8-8 with an uncharacteristic 4.88 ERA. Verlander underwent core muscle surgery in January after he also sustained a groin injury.
"The same thing is happening to Justin Verlander, but the difference is he pitches every five days, so you don't see it as frequently," Cabrera told the publication.
Cabrera said neither he nor Verlander will make any excuses for the way they're playing.
"As he and I talked about, we're never going to offer any excuses for our performance," he said. "We always want to be out on the field and compete, and I think that's the most important thing we can do, compete and try to get past this tough time. And the main thing is we're in first place."
Cabrera and the Tigers are in first place in the AL Central at the All-Star break, with a 6.5 game lead over the second place Kansas City Royals as the team looks for its fourth straight division crown when the second half resumes.
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