Miguel Cabrera’s playing days are long over.
But the emotions of winning a World Baseball Classic with Team Venezuela on Tuesday night still were raw, as evidenced by the tears rolling down his face following a 3-2 win over Team USA at loanDepot Park in Miami.
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“Thank God this dream came true for me,” Cabrera told reporters on the field after the game, amid a wild celebration as Venezuela won its first WBC championship.
Venezuela hitting coach Miguel Cabrera (24) reacts after defeating the United States during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game at loanDepot Park.
Cabrera, 42, served as hitting coach for Team Venezuela, and add such, he gets to add the title to his long list of accomplishments in the game, including a World Series title with the Marlins in 2003 and Most Valuable Player awards with the Tigers in 2012-13.
Cabrera’s next big moment in baseball might come in 2029, when he’s a lock for the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Cabrera, who threw out the first pitch before Tuesday night’s game along with Hall-of-Famer Ken Griffey Jr., was one of several people with Tigers ties for Team Venezuela in 2026. Here’s a look at the entire list.
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â–¶ Cabrera (Tigers, 2008-23), hitting coach
â–¶ Victor Martinez (2011-18), assistant manager
â–¶ Jose Alvarez (2013), left-handed pitcher
â–¶ Emmanuel De Jesus (2025-present), left-handed pitcher
â–¶ Keider Montero (2024-present), right-handed pitcher
â–¶ Eduardo Rodriguez (2022-23), left-handed pitcher
â–¶ Ricardo Sanchez (2022; Toledo), left-handed pitcher
â–¶ Eugenio Suarez (2014), third baseman
â–¶ Gleyber Torres (2025-present), second baseman
This was the sixth WBC, which has been won three times by Japan and once each by the United States, Dominican Republic and, now, Venezuela. The U.S. won 2017, with Jim Leyland as the Americans’ manager.
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Tigers pitchers Tarik Skubal and Will Vest were on Team USA in 2026. Skubal didn’t pitch in the championship game, opting out to get ready for the Tigers’ season, though he was at the ballpark Tuesday.
Vest replaced Skubal on the roster, and pitched a scoreless inning of relief Tuesday. Former Tigers pitcher Matthew Boyd represented Team USA, as did Tigers bench coach George Lombard and former Tiger Sean Casey on the staff.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Former Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera wins WBC with Venezuela