LAKELAND, Fla. — Miguel Cabrera walked out of the clubhouse and onto the field at Joker Marchant Stadium, almost like he never left.

Cabrera, now a special assistant in the Detroit Tigers' front office, arrived in Lakeland on Tuesday for his first day of spring training. The Hall of Fame-caliber player, who retired at the end of last season to complete a legendary 21-year career, is spending the week as a coach.

On his first day, Cabrera wore the orange spring training hat, just like everyone else on the field, plus the same sunglasses that tried but failed to contain his tears on the final day of his playing career, just more than five months ago.

"I'm feeling good," Cabrera said. "I feel like I gave everything I had in baseball. Right now I can say, 'OK, that's enough.' I didn't want to leave baseball and say I can play more. No, I can't play anymore. No more baseball for me. Volleyball and softball."

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In the stadium, Cabrera joked around in right field during stretches, caught throws at first base during infield drills and shagged fly balls in the outfield during batting practice.

After 21 seasons, he doesn't miss playing baseball.

"It was enough," Cabrera said. "I played a lot. I gave everything I had."

Cabrera talked to first baseman Spencer Torkelson throughout infield drills. As a special assistant, Cabrera wants to give back to the players through conversations about the mental side of the game, even though he can certainly help in other ways, too.

"Whatever they ask me, I'm open to talking to them about," Cabrera said. "Mostly what I talked to them about is up here, it's mental. A lot of times, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves. Just go out there and do your job, and have fun."

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Manager A.J. Hinch and Cabrera stayed in touch about the best time for Cabrera to join the Tigers in spring training. The timing of the week-long coaching visit, based on Cabrera's schedule, worked out for the Tigers' schedule.

"It's a perfect time to bring his energy and his laugh to the field," Hinch said. "Mid-camp is always a good time to get a little boost. We're only two weeks out from the season, and spring training can get long."

"Spring break," Cabrera said, laughing.

Before Tuesday's pregame workout, Cabrera entered the coaches' room — rather than the players' clubhouse — at the spring training facility for the first time in his life.

It made him feel old.

"It's because you are old," Hinch told him. "Welcome to the club."

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Cabrera isn't in the best shape of his life, but he looks healthy. He spent time working out with former teammate José Iglesias in the offseason. He also played in a beach volleyball league, and of course, he won the league championship.

"I look like a guy who goes to South Beach," Cabrera said, laughing.

Back in December, Cabrera revealed his plan to play one more baseball season for Tigres de Aragua in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League during the 2024-25 season, which begins in late October 2024.

Cabrera isn't sure if that's going to happen.

"I don't know," Cabrera said. "Let's see how my knee feels."

But Cabrera will be in attendance for the Tigers' home opener April 5 against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. He will be in Chicago for his daughter's volleyball tournament in late March, which lines up with Opening Day for the Tigers on March 28 against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

He shared his expectations for the Tigers.

"I hope the starting pitching stays healthy," Cabrera said. "If they stay healthy, playoffs, playoffs."

For the next few days, Cabrera will get a sneak peek of the 2024 version of the Tigers as a part-time coach in Lakeland, Florida. He is expected to report to the batting cages at 8 a.m. each day to help the trio of hitting coaches.

Cabrera will work with major leaguers and minor leaguers.

"He's going to have to stay for the whole game, which will be new," Hinch said. "We'll play it out as the week unfolds. We need his wisdom. We need his influence. It's the first time he's ever been in the coaches' room. It's the first time he's going to lean on a fungo. But he's catching up."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Miguel Cabrera ready for new role with Detroit Tigers