Tigers place Cabrera on DL with groin strain

The Tigers have put All Star first baseman Miguel Cabrera on the 10-day disabled list with a right groin strain, the team announced on Twitter today. Infielder John Hicks is starting in Cabrera’s place today against the Twins after being recalled from Triple-A Toledo.

Cabrera got hurt in the sixth inning of the Tigers’ 6-3 loss to the Twins on Friday after he dove to his right to try to knock down a hit by Robbie Grossman. The 34-year-old played through the pain and left the game after the inning ended.

Cabrera’s injury, which will put him out until May 1, is the second one he has had this season. He experienced back tightness against a week ago against the Indians and had the same problem during the World Baseball Classic in the spring.

A two-time AL MVP and an 11-time All Star, Cabrera was coming off a 2016 season in which he recorded his 10th 30-homer season after blasting 38 homers to do with 108 RBI and a slash line of .316/.393/.563. This season, he has three home runs and nine RBI while batting .268/.369/.464 in 65 plate appearances.

For now, Hicks appears to be the best replacement for Cabrera. The 27-year-old has played at a high level in Toledo this season, slashing .424/.412/.606 and driving in 12 runs in 10 games.

If he does not work for the first few games, the Tigers can look to either Victor Martinez or Alex Avila to play first. If Cabrera is out for a longer period of time, then they can call up veterans Efren Navarro and James Loney from Toledo after both signed minor-league deals with the club this season.