By Katie Winkler
Review Staff Writer
Detroit Tigers first baseman and Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera brought his skills and knowledge to the Lake Orion High School football field last Friday to teach young athletes a thing or two about baseball.
During the course of the day, kids in grades one through eight, rotated between stations focusing on different fundamentals needed for the game of baseball.
Cabrera worked with the young athletes and encouraged them to work hard.
ProCamps Worldwide puts on various sporting camps, all featuring professional athletes dominating in their sport.
‘Detroit is a great sports market and when it comes to Tigers baseball, there is no bigger name,? ProCamps Director of Sales and Media, Julia Roberts. ‘We are very lucky we can work with [Cabrera] and happy to work with someone like that.?
Last summer was the first year ProCamps worked with Cabrera, hosting the camp at LOHS. During the 2013 Miguel Cabrera ProCamp, Cabrera was only able to stay briefly, due to rehab therapy he was undergoing at that time.
This time around, Cabrera interacted with campers throughout the day, helping them with drills and giving pointers during game play.
‘This is something I want to do. I enjoy doing it,? Cabrera said. ?[Young athletes] keep working hard and they can get better.?
Roberts believes working with professional athletes betters the kids? skills on the field.
Each year ProCamps works with an outside sponsor, this year it was Taco Bell Foundation for Teens, to bring kids to camp that would not be able to afford the $199 cost. Roberts explained that the chance to attend a ProCamp is a ‘dream come true. It’s something you’ll always remember.?
All participants, about 380 kids, left camp with a camp team photo with Cabrera, a Cabrera autograph and a Cabrera ProCamps T-shirt in addition to the memories made working side-by-side with Cabrera.
Parents and spectators were able to bid and purchase various autographed items, such as home and away Tiger jerseys, mini helmets, photos, baseballs and baseball bats.
‘All of the pros started as young athletes and they know what it takes to make it to pros on and off the field,? Roberts said. ?[ProCamps] is all about getting top pros in each market to teach what they know to future pros.?