Miguel Cabrera had cool way of passing torch to Tigers’ top prospect

The Detroit Tigers officially announced that top prospect Spencer Torkelson will make their Opening Day roster in 2022. They let Torkelson know in a pretty cool way, too.

When Torkelson was summoned into manager A.J. Hinch’s office, he found Miguel Cabrera there as well. After Torkelson was told he’d made the team, Cabrera gifted him a first baseman’s mitt in a symbolic gesture.

Tigers GM Al Avila just announced that Spencer Torkelson will make the Opening Day roster. Miguel Cabrera presented him with a first baseman's glove in what Avila said was an emotional moment in A.J. Hinch's office.

— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) April 2, 2022

Cabrera has manned first for the Tigers for all but two seasons since they acquired him prior to the 2008 campaign. Giving up time in the field to accommodate Torkelson is no small gesture from him, even if that decision was never going to be totally up to him.

Torkelson, the No. 1 pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, has been on the fast track to the majors ever since he was selected. There’s a case to be made that his bat was MLB-ready on draft day, and the Tigers seemed to agree with that. Now they’ll see for themselves what kind of an all-around player he is.

Photo: Mar 30, 2022; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) looks on from the dugout in the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports