By STEVE KORNACKI
Special to FOXSportsDetroit.com
LAKELAND, Fla. -- It could have been much worse. That much is for sure.
What's not certain is exactly when Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera will be able to return to action because of a non-displaced fracture of the right orbital bone.
Both Cabrera, the defending American League batting champion, and Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski were hopeful Tuesday that Cabrera would be back in the lineup for the April 5 season opener against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence’s sharp one-hopper in Monday’s game at Clearwater was on Cabrera before he could get out of the way. He glanced to the right but took the blow that left him bleeding as he walked off the field and required eight stitches to close.
“Thank God that I had glasses on,” said Cabrera, adding that he just started wearing them last week at the urging of utility infielder Ramon Santiago. “I think the glasses helped me a lot…Hopefully, I can come back soon.
“I’m lucky.”
The shot hit the sunglasses before making contact with the facial area below his right eye.
Cabrera, 28, was taken to Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater after the game, and was reexamined Tuesday at Watson Clinic in Lakeland.
“He’ll have no activity for a week,” Dombrowski said, “and then be reevaluated at that time. It’s very important to have him rest and get the swelling out and let this thing heal as much as possible.
“His vision is fine. There’s no problem with his vision; his vision is perfect.”
Tigers manager Jim Leyland added, “You just have to ride out these situations -- however it rides out.”
Cabrera switched this season from first base to third base, a position he played earlier in his career, to allow free-agent acquisition Prince Fielder to play first.
ESPN commentator Terry Francona was among those noting that no third baseman would have escaped that screamer.
“He hit me hard, very hard” Cabrera said. “It was so quick.”
Cabrera was able to walk off the field under his own power, though, and receive a favorable prognosis for a quick return.
“I see real good,” Cabrera said. “I don’t feel any pain right now. I’m lucky. I can take a punch -- or two or three.”
Cabrera, a six-time All-Star, led the league with a .344 batting average in 2011. He also hit 30 home runs with 105 RBIs.
Cabrera is batting .433 with three doubles, one homer and four RBIs in 30 Grapefruit League at-bats.
After picking up the win in Detroit’s 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves, Tigers winning pitcher Justin Verlander said of Cabrera’s prognosis: “That’s great news. Obviously, it could have been a whole lot worse. To have him on the field opening day would be great.”
