LAKELAND, Fla. _ Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera said he's feeling better after suffering a back injury while playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
Cabrera didn't play for the Tigers on Wednesday and wasn't on the travel roster for Thursday's game against the Atlanta Braves in Kissimmee, Fla.
Cabrera said he's receiving daily treatment on his back.
"I hurt my back the first game in Mexico," Cabrera said Thursday at Joker Marchant Stadium. "Out there, long game, and I felt a pop in the right side."
He pointed to his lower lat.
"After that, it affected more toward my left side," Cabrera said. "That's where I feel it more."
Cabrera said he'll play again when he's ready, but was unsure if he would be ready for Opening Day on April 3 if he doesn't play again this spring.
"I don't know," he said. "You never know. I will play when I am ready to play. If I can play tomorrow, I will play tomorrow. But I am not worried about that right now. I am worried about getting my back good and making sure I am 100 percent."
Cabrera said he is happy for former Tigers manager Jim Leyland and current Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, who helped Team USA win the WBC on Wednesday night.
Asked what he thought of the international tournament, Cabrera said: "It was different. It was a lot of pressure because we feel like we needed to win the tournament. There was a lot of expectations, and we came up short. We didn't live up to the expectations. We weren't able to turn it around quick and we lost the last two games.
"It was good, but when you hurt something _ I hurt my back on the first day. You don't want to play like that. But it's a good tournament to get you going, go out and play 100 percent at that time of the year. It helps you get ready for the season."
