Tigers’ Cabrera charged with drunk driving
Associated Press
LAKELAND, Fla.
Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera was arrested late Wednesday on suspicion of drunken driving in Florida, leaving teammates stunned and concerned about the slugging first baseman less than a week into spring training.
The 27-year-old Cabrera has struggled with drinking-related problems in the past, but he’s coming off perhaps his best season. He hit .328 with 38 home runs last year and finished second in the American League MVP vote.
Cabrera was spotted by a deputy in a car with a smoking engine alongside a road in Fort Pierce. Inside the vehicle, Cabrera smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and took a swig from a bottle of scotch in front of a deputy, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. He refused to cooperate and more deputies were called to the scene.
The arrest occurred about 110 miles southeast of Lakeland, where the Tigers hold spring training. Pitchers and catchers began workouts earlier this week, but position players don’t start until Saturday.
“It was obviously a shock to everybody,” catcher Alex Avila said.
Cabrera is “very embarrassed” and plans to apologize to his teammates and the Tigers organization when he reports to camp Saturday, according to The Associated Press.
General manager Dave Dombrowski said he’d spoken briefly to Cabrera. Dombrowski has also been in touch with the commissioner’s office.
According to the police report, Cabrera was wandering into the road with his hands up before he was handcuffed. He kept saying, “Do you know who I am? You don’t know anything about my problems,” and cursed at deputies who tried to get him into a patrol car.
One deputy struck Cabrera in the left thigh several times with his knee after Cabrera pushed into him, causing the ballplayer to fall into the patrol car. Cabrera refused to take a breath test, deputies said.
He was arrested on misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting an officer without violence. He posted $1,350 bond and was released from jail at 7:45 a.m. Thursday.
“It’s hard,” said second baseman Carlos Guillen. “I worry about him.”