Miguel Cabrera and the Most Dominant Hitters in MLB

There have already been some very impressive feats accomplished by the best hitters from around the major leagues. However, the four-home run performance by the Rangers’ Josh Hamilton takes the cake.

Not only has Hamilton found success in 2012, there are a couple of former superstars who are throwing together an impressive, resurgent season.

I have compiled a list of six of the most dominant hitters around the MLB. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

In the 2003 World Series, the former Florida Marlins caught everyone by surprise as they were the unlikely choice to be crowned champions.

Coincidentally, that was the same year Miguel Cabrera broke into the majors.

The 240-pound right-handed slugger has grown into one of the most dominant hitters in the entire game. This season, he is batting at a .308 clip with eight home runs and 31 RBI (tied for second with Edwin Encarnacion in RBI, behind Hamilton).

Cabrera, who is just 29 years old, has collected 285 career home runs, driven in 1,015 RBI and is a .317 lifetime batter. Between 2004 and last season, he had only hit less than 30 home runs in one season (26 in 2006, though he still managed to record 114 RBI).

His most prolific home-run season occurred in 2010 when he smashed 38 long balls and drove in 126, while still batting at a very respectable .328 clip.

Unlike some power hitters, Cabrera has an excellent eye at the dish and usually bats in the .300 range.

Definitely watch out for Cabrera as he will lead the Detroit Tigers' charge to the playoffs. That is, if they ever find their way, as Detroit has been struggling along the .500 mark.

Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers

What is there to really say about Josh Hamilton? Well, he is one of the most inspiring athletes in all of sports, and is in the middle of his prime at 30 years old.

The former drug addict who thought he would never play the game of baseball again, tied a major-league record after he delivered four home runs in a single game against the Orioles on May 8^th.

On the season, Hamilton is basically leading the entire MLB in all major hitting categories. Through 38 games, he is batting at a very lofty .402 clip, which is the highest in the American League and second in the majors to the Mets’ David Wright. Usually, I say there is no chance for the leader at this point in the season to maintain a .400 average throughout the season, but he might be the one able to accomplish this feat.

Not only is he hitting for a high average, but he has posted some strong power numbers. Hamilton has already crushed 18 home runs and driven in 45 RBI on the young season.

Over his short five-year career, Hamilton has recorded 136 home runs and 470 RBI while batting at a .317 clip. The 2010 MVP batted at an amazing .359 clip with 32 home runs and 100 RBI. In 2008, he recorded 32 home runs for the first time (career high).

Last season, Hamilton only hit 25 home runs, but was able to nearly reach 100 RBI (94).

Hamilton is definitely one of the most, if not the most, dominant hitters in all of MLB. Look for him to accomplish some great feats and maybe break another record or two this season, as he looks to lead his Rangers to the American League pennant title for a third straight year.

Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers

Unfortunately, the Dodgers’ slugging center fielder, Matt Kemp, strained his hamstring the other night legging out a grounder in the infield, which might cause problems for the first-place Los Angeles club out west.

Before he landed on the DL after Monday night’s game, Kemp was vying for another run at the Triple Crown title. Remember, last season he fell short in just the batting-average department.

Currently, Kemp is batting .359 with 12 home runs and 28 RBI, but unfortunately, he will be sidelined for the next six weeks or so.

In his career, Kemp is a .296 hitter with 140 home runs and 485 RBI. Last season was his breakout year, as he launched 39 home runs, drove in 146 and batted at a .324 clip.

After becoming an everyday player in 2008, his power began to creep out. He smashed 18 home runs in ’08 and continued to steadily get better and better. In 2009, he finished with 26 home runs and smashed 28 a year later in 2010.

Definitely look for Kemp to put up some impressive numbers when he returns from the DL. Unfortunately, Triple Crown is probably out of the discussion, but there still is time for him to do some damage in the West.

David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

One of the great sluggers of our time is Boston Red Sox first baseman/DH David Ortiz, and he is currently hitting with the authority he had when he delivered 54 home runs in 2006.

Currently, the slugger is not in the lineup as he is day-to-day with a bruised left heel, but he will be back by this weekend.

On the season, Big Papi is batting .353 with eight home runs and 27 RBI. Last season, he finished with 29 home runs and 96 RBI to go along with a .309 batting average.

In his career, the 15-year veteran Dominican has compiled 384 long balls, 1,293 RBI and is a .285 lifetime hitter.

Ortiz smashed 41 home runs or more from 2004 to 2006 (41 in ’04, 46 in ’05 and 54 in ’06) and has compiled 30 or more home runs and 100 RBI in six different seasons.

Ortiz has been one of the most prolific power hitters of my time, and I honestly thought he was done a couple of seasons ago. However, since then, he has slimmed down and become an even better hitter (although his power numbers have dropped a bit).

Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees

The former Detroit Tiger and current New York Yankee, Curtis Granderson, is one of the most powerful, young sluggers in the game today. An unlikely candidate for such power, he has already delivered 13 home runs on the season.

Although he is struggling with his batting average (.257), the power and production are still there; Granderson has delivered 23 RBI to go along with his 13 jacks.

Last season with the Bronx Bombers, he broke out and jolted 41 home runs and drove in 119 RBI, both career highs. His previous RBI-high was 74 back in 2007 and his single-season home-run-high was 30 in 2009, his last season with the Tigers.

Early in his career, he was more of table-setter and someone who could steal bases. Although he can still bat at the top of the order, he is more of a power threat and a scary face in the opposing dugout.

Granderson is a career .267 batter, and he has hit over .300 in only one season (2007). He has compiled 180 home runs and 506 RBI over his eight-plus seasons in the majors.

He plays in the brightest spotlight in the sports world, New York City. There is all the pressure in the world, and he is still able to flourish and succeed. Definitely watch out for Granderson this season as he could go on another tear with the lumber.

Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals

Another resurgent candidate in the making, St. Louis Cardinal Carlos Beltran is putting together an impressive season with his new club. He is batting .295 with 13 home runs and 32 RBI on the young season.

Last year he was traded to the Giants as they made a playoff run toward the end of the season. He finished with 22 home runs and 84 RBI while batting .300.

Until last year, Beltran had not really played a full season since 2008 with the Mets; he played in 161 games that season and launched 27 home runs with 117 RBI.

His breakout season occurred in 2004 when he split time between the team that drafted him, the Kansas City Royals, and the Houston Astros. He smashed a then career-high 38 home runs and drove in 104 runs that year.

His best season power-wise occurred in 2006 with the Mets when he delivered 41 home runs and drove in 116 (both career-highs).

Beltran has struggled with injuries over the last couple of seasons as he only hit 10 long balls in 2009 and seven in 2010 over 145 contests. The question will be whether or not he can sustain his health and continue to post strong power numbers.

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