Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera has surgery, expected to be ready for spring training

Miguel Cabrera had core muscle surgery and is expected to be ready for spring training. (Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera underwent successful core muscle repair surgery on Tuesday and is expected to be ready for Spring Training, the team announced.

The team said Cabrera will undergo physical rehabilitation for the next six to eight weeks.

Cabrera, 30, played the latter part of the season with a partial tear in his groin, but still finished the year leading the major leagues in batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. He also hit 44 home runs and drove in 137 runs this season.

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He only hit .262 with two homers in the postseason and the Tigers were eliminated in six games by the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series.

"I tried to [play hurt], to take advantage of the chance we had in the playoffs, because with so many good teams you never know when a chance like this will come along," Cabrera told ESPN.com "It took me eight or nine years to get back in the playoffs, and I wanted to be back there and help the team win."