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Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera unsure of Opening Day status

By Alex Butler
Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) prepares to bat against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on May 9, 2016. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
1 of 3 | Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) prepares to bat against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on May 9, 2016. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

March 23 (UPI) -- Baseball's best hitter might not be ready for April's unofficial holiday.

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera suffered a back injury while suiting up for Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic. He wasn't on the Tigers' travel roster for Thursday's contest in Kissimmee, Florida and didn't play Wednesday.

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He told the Detroit Free Press that he was unsure if he would be ready for the Tigers' season opener on April 3.

"I don't know," Cabrera told the Free Press. "You never know. I will play when I am ready to play. If I can play tomorrow, I will play tomorrow. But I am not worried about that right now. I am worried about getting my back good and making sure I am 100%."

The two-time MVP and 11-time All-Star is getting daily treatments for the ailment. Cabrera, 33, is the league's active leader in career batting average, with a .321 clip. He hit .316 with 38 home runs and 108 RBI in 2016. In 2012, he led baseball in home runs, RBI, and batting average.

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Cabrera suffered the lower back injury during his first game in Mexico.

He told the Detroit News that if he could play tomorrow, he would.

"He told me he was going to take some soft-toss today," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus told the Detroit News. "When he says he's ready, we'll put him on the field and see if he can hit batting practice. And if he's fine a day later, then he'll play.

"He's got plenty of at-bats under his belt. As long as he can play part of next week, he'll be fine."

Cabrera is 6-for-18, with three doubles, in seven games this spring for the Tigers.

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