Detroit Tigers great Miguel Cabrera has volunteered to serve as a co-chair of the Protect Michigan Commission and help promote the state’s COVID-19 vaccination and education efforts, announced Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“I am honored by Gov. Whitmer’s appointment as a co-chair of the Protect Michigan Commission and look forward to using my platform to increase awareness of how getting vaccinated can help slow COVID-19 infections,” Cabrera said.

“Based on what I know from getting vaccinated already, the shots are nowhere near as bad as the virus,” Cabrera said. “Our goal with the Commission is to get as many people vaccinated as possible, and I hope my support toward that end is successful.”

Cabrera, nicknamed “Miggy,” is an 11-time Major League Baseball All Star and two-time American League Most Valuable Player who joined the Tigers in December, 2007. He and the Tigers have offered to produce public service announcements in English and Spanish that will encourage Michiganders to get vaccinated and continue to practice preventative measures such as properly wearing masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing to reduce the spread of the virus until the vast majority of people have been vaccinated.

“We are grateful that ‘Miggy’ is stepping up to the plate to help inform Michiganders on the importance of getting their COVID-19 vaccinations,” Gov. Whitmer said. “We appreciate the Tiger organization’s advocacy because this is an all-hands-on-deck moment in our state’s effort to persevere and overcome the pandemic.”

Gov. Whitmer created the Protect Michigan Commission in January. The appointees represent a diverse array of industries, professions and backgrounds. Housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), they are charged with helping to ensure every Michigander has a plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19 once the opportunity becomes available. Their goal is facilitating at least 100,000 shots in arms daily.