Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera (ankle) hopes to be ready for Opening Day

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera hopes to be ready for Opening Day

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera says he hopes to be 100 percent by Opening Day after having offseason ankle surgery.

Cabrera made his first appearance in a spring training game on Sunday, going 1-for-3 with a single and two strikeouts during a 7-7 tie with the Washington Nationals.

Cabrera had surgery to remove bone spurs in his right ankle and to repair a stress fracture to the navicular bone in October.

"I'm positive we're going to be there," Cabrera said to MLB.com about Opening Day, while referring to himself and Victor Martinez. "Hopefully we can be 100 percent. Hopefully we can be with the team the first day of the season."

Cabrera, a two-time American League Most Valuable Player, signed an eight-year, $248 million contract extension in 2014. Last season, he hit .313 with 25 home runs and 109 RBIs in 159 games.

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Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said there is a better than average chance that Cabrera would start on Opening Day.

"I think there's probably better than a 50 percent chance," Brad Ausmus said. "If there are no setbacks and he plays in most of the games the rest of the way, I would say better than 50/50."

The Tigers have 12 more spring training games before starting the season on April 6 against the Minnesota Twins. 

- Scooby Axson