Growing up, C.J. Cron watched Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera from afar.

He then competed from him from 2014-19 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays and Twins. This year, he’s teammates with the 11-time All-Star and two-time American League MVP.

“He’s a definitely great, genuinely great leader for the youthful fellas,” Cron, 30, claimed Tuesday on a movie convention get in touch with.

Which is been a recurrent chorus for Cabrera’s teammates in excess of the several years, irrespective of his recent accidents and the Tigers’ struggles. Even Cron, entering his seventh MLB season and 7 years young than Cabrera, is soaking up as significantly as he can.

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“It can be hard to do what a male of that caliber does,” Cron mentioned. “This is likely to be a 1st-ballot Hall of Famer, and for me to attempt to do exactly what he does, I never know if I’m competent more than enough to do that.”

Cron may not have Cabrera’s normal techniques. But his addition to the lineup should give the Tigers an further dose of appropriate-handed electrical power in the course of the upcoming 60-match time.

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In 140 online games for the Rays in 2018, Cron had 30 household operates and 74 RBIs with a .253 batting typical. He had another 17 homers and 54 RBIs for the Twins at previous season’s All-Star split before a nagging thumb personal injury that necessary surgical procedure lower his 2nd half to 47 game titles.

Cron’s ability manufactured an visual appearance spring schooling with the Tigers this year, as he posted a slash line of .346/.452/.731 (with 1 double, three homers and five RBIs) in 12 online games.

He created it a level to observe how opposing pitchers deal with Cabrera, healthier right after dealing with an wounded knee past period, in particular in hitter-friendly counts this spring. The former AL Triple Crown winner strike .45 with 3 house runs and seven RBIs.

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“No matter whether they try to toss the off-speed in an advantage count or if they like to challenge,” Cron stated. “Just matters like that. I can do all of that from the on-deck circle. He is been fantastic. Viewing him go about his small business has been awesome.”

Considering the fact that signing up for the Tigers on a one-calendar year, $6.1 million agreement in December, Cron has taken a web site out of Cabrera’s e book, aiming to support young players appreciate every minute, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I don’t forget when I was youthful,” he mentioned. “You’re always on your toes. You really don’t want to mess all-around as well a lot. You never want to do everything the incorrect way.

“And I imagine possessing older fellas just becoming close to and producing the clubhouse unfastened goes a extended way.” 

Cron has the frame of mind of — a veteran chief inclined to master, yet generally prepared to train.

Appears familiar, would not it?

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Evan Petzold is a athletics reporting intern at the Detroit Totally free Press. Speak to him at epetzold@freepress.com or observe him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.