Growing up, C.J. Cron watched Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera from afar.
He then competed against him from 2014-19 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays and Twins. This year, he's teammates with the 11-time All-Star and two-time American League MVP.
"He's a really good, really good leader for the young guys," Cron, 30, said Tuesday on a video conference call.
That's been a frequent refrain for Cabrera's teammates over the years, despite his recent injuries and the Tigers' struggles. Even Cron, entering his seventh MLB season and seven years younger than Cabrera, is soaking up as much as he can.