Miguel Cabrera’s statistics, for age 26, are astounding. His average season, in the past three years: .312, 35 homers, 116 RBI, OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .931.

He’s among the elite hitters in baseball, and he’s done it with a big crutch. He admitted to the Detroit media this week that he’s an alcoholic, and has been in treatment for the past three months.

This came after Cabrera’s ill-timed drinking binge during the final weekend of the regular season last year, with the Tigers fighting for a playoff spot.

“This is a wonderful kid, and we’re happy because he has a great life ahead of him,” said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, to the Detroit News. “But for selfish reasons, we’re also happy because there’s no telling how good he can be.”

Now baseball history is full of players who could hit with a hangover, but getting help now can only bode well. As Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press wrote, Cabrera didn’t have a problem with not caring about baseball while he was drinking. He might have cared too much.

Is an MVP-type season coming? Wouldn’t be surprising at all.

How good can Miguel Cabrera be? originally appeared on About.com Baseball on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 15:30:58.

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