He needs to improve against breaking and offspeed pitches. Spring training stats: .267/.395/.500, 1 home run, 7 walks, 21 strikeouts. Right-hander Matt Manning, whom the Tigers have been waiting on to develop further, has struggled in spring training. Goodrum can play infield or outfield, but the Tigers are likely going to roster five outfielders, so hell be filling in at all four infield spots. Hell be the everyday left fielder. Hinch definitely has a decision to make between Grossman and Candelario in the No. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Grossman was a few percentage points better in terms of OBP last season, but Candelario was definitely the better all-around hitter. 9 hitter, especially for a catcher. So, here's a look at Detroit's 26-man roster: Catchers: Wilson Ramos, Grayson Greiner. The organization has eliminated 16 players from 26-man roster contention, but there are 49 players remaining in MLB camp. Csar Hernndez, a veteran switch-hitter, should feel good about his chances of making the Opening Day roster and pushing Schoop for playing time. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-detroitsportsnation_com-box-4-0-asloaded{max-width:300px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'detroitsportsnation_com-box-4','ezslot_1',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-detroitsportsnation_com-box-4-0');With spring training now underway, the Detroit Tigers are preparing for the upcoming MLB season. Everyone is waiting to see whether or not Manning posts an encouraging outing when he starts Friday against the New York Yankees in Lakeland. But Rogers, who went 4-for-112 with 51 strikeouts at the MLB level in 2019, is just 3-for-22 this spring with 10 strikeouts and a .382 OPS. Entering 2023, Maton should be the starting third baseman against righties. MORE ON SCHOOP: Tigers' Jonathan Schoop looks different, promises better results in 2023. We had a wait-and-see approach with him, and even though we were excited on the front end, he exceeded even the best of expectations that we had coming in and quite honestly forced his way onto our team as a player and not as a Rule 5 pick.. FILE - In this Friday, July 10, 2020, file photo, the Detroit Tigers play an intrasquad baseball game, in Detroit. Normally these come out before the start of camp. Outfield (4): Akil Baddoo, Robbie Grossman, Austin Meadows, Victor ReyesThere are two left-handed hitters and two switch-hitters in this group, providing valuable balance for what had been a righty-heavy lineup at times last season. Three players stand out in this competition: Ryan Kreidler, Andy Ibez and Tyler Nevin. Spring training stats: .217/.280/.304, 0 home runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts. 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All Win Expectancy, Leverage Index, Run Expectancy, and Fans Scouting Report data licenced from TangoTiger.com. He hit .238 with 17 homers in 144 games last season. But keep in mind, the 30-year-old wasn't that bad in 2022. Greene, 22, will be an everyday player as he looks for a breakthrough sophomore season with All-Star-caliber results. That's what A.J. He should get a couple of starts a week over there, according to Hinch. For now, though, depth is seriously taxed. In fact, its possible that three or four players signed within the last 10 days could be among the players who come north for Opening Day on April 8 at Comerica Park. Hes not a plus defensively, but Meadows gives the Tigers an above-average runner and someone who could lead the team in home runs, if healthy. The bad news: Star prospect Riley Greene suffered a foot injury that will keep him out for around two months. Can World Baseball Classic help 'comfortable' Javier Bez energize Tigers in 2023? The Tigers havent formally announced that their roster is set, allowing the possibility of a last-minute move. He looks pretty good. Ive listed the projected starters below. Nez was much better handling throws after that, but the non-roster invitee was informed he won't make the Opening Day roster and could become a free agent by declining a Minor League assignment. He loves to channel his energy and emotions into every facet of the game -- offense, defense and base running. Ibez has a 76.2% contact rate against breakers much better than Kreidler's 57.1% contact rate against breakers and is a career .304 hitter against lefties. That will make for a whopping nine-man bullpen to start the season. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 1 prospect Colt Keith JUST. Theyre all in Detroits bullpen now, and Hinch is open to using them at any time, not just as innings-eating long relievers. He's still likely to be the best overall hitter on this team, so you want him getting as many ABs as possible. Detroit Tigers Opening day Roster Projection Here is what Petzold currently believes Detroit's Opening Day Roster will look like. When hes healthy, Turnbull will be up near the top of the rotation with Boyd. We gave everybody a chance. Meadows hits same-handed pitching pretty well, and this may seem a little low for him, but there are couple of things to note. Of course, theres still a ton of uncertainty. When the Tigers traded for Candelario, he was a top 100 prospect with excellent on-base skills and decent power -- thats exactly what hes become at the major-league level. Versatility and reliability are a great combination. And the fact that I can really go to any guy, probably Tyler Alexander, and ambush them with a different responsibility on a day-to-day basis is a great luxury.. Thats after he broke out with a .369 OBP and .872 OPS during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. April 6th, 2022 Jason Beck @ beckjason DETROIT -- The Tigers' Opening Day roster includes several players making their debut for Detroit and two prospects making their Major League debut, as well as two pitchers returning to club after being sent to the Minors earlier this spring. We also dont know whether newly signed pitchers Michael Pineda and Wily Peralta will get their visas approved in time to be ready for Opening Day. Schoop has hit lefties slightly better throughout his career, but he had reverse splits last seasonif you can even call them that. Shortstop (1): Javier BezEl Mago has the potential to be a game-changer for Detroit, not just with his defense at short, but also his aggressiveness and instincts on the bases. Here is what Petzold currently believes Detroit's Opening Day Roster will look like. So, heres a look at Detroit's 26-man roster: Catchers: Wilson Ramos, Grayson GreinerThe backup-catcher competition was supposed to go down to the final days, but it wound up being one of the first decisions. Haase is basically guaranteed a job. Theres nothing more Holland could do to prove he should make the team. If you choose to make a purchase after clicking a link, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. The 31-year-old, an established veteran earning $7.5 million this season, has a long track record of hitting, but the clock has been ticking for far too long. Candelario led MLB with 42 doubles last season and paired it with a .351 OBP. But Barnhart will be the primary option behind the dish. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Hes hitting the ball hard and has a good eye at the plate, so the Tigers will likely give him another chance this year. First base: Miguel CabreraNo, this does not mean Cabrera is the everyday starter at first base, or even the primary starter. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Players like Paredes, Willi Castro, Zack Short and Kody Clemens may have to wait in Toledo until more opportunities open up. 2 slot came to the plate 721 times, while the No. Tigers News Reports Projecting the Detroit Tigers 2022 Opening Day starting lineup By W.G. Hinch does. But overall, Castro has proven he can play shortstop this spring, and its not a given that hell be a liability there. 9:30 a.m.: Nothing like Opening Day optimism. While he could bat a tick lower in the batting order with the arrival of Bez, his everyday role is secure. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Expect him to be sitting dead red. That makes the bench much more complicated. For the first time since 2019, the Detroit Tigers will welcome a capacity crowd to Comerica Park for Opening Day, Presented by Rocket Mortgage, this Friday, April 8 against the Chicago White Sox at 1:10 p.m. The majority of his at-bats with the Rays this spring came in the cleanup spot, and thats where he hit most often last season, as well. To start this season, we felt like the versatility was going to be very important, Hinch said. Hinchs first Tigers roster will be known as an intersection of top prospects in Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Willi Castro with rebounding veterans like Julio Teheran and Derek Holland. It appears the Tigers will use Urena as a starter to break camp, though hes only pitched 4.2 innings during the spring. Heres a projection of what the 26-man roster should look like. Without further ado, here's our projected Opening Day lineup for the Detroit Tigers. STOP! Meadows hit 27 home runs in 2021 and 33 home runs in 2019 (the most recent full season before 2021). What Detroit Tigers' Opening Day lineup could look like after Austin Meadows trade Al Avila adds power threat to heart of lineup Jeimer Candelario, Akil Baddoo and Austin Meadows. Castro's left-handed bat also provides a chance at lineup balance and pinch-hitting opportunities. He managed to post a 3.80 ERA and 1.172 WHIP, but his 4.41 FIP suggests he was fortunate. The Detroit Tigers open the 2022 season at home against the Chicago White Sox on Friday, April 8, and we have everything you need to know about the game. They play their home games at Comerica Park (Park Factors: 105/106) where fans are witnessing their 2020 Tigers play with a .404 winning percentage. Spring training stats: .154/.267/.269, 1 home run, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts. Dont get it twisted, though: Hes making the team because of his bat. The Tigers werent done building the roster, so projecting it was nearly impossible. We now finally know what 95% of the Detroit Tigers Opening Day roster looks like. Then, two more relievers will exit when rosters return to 26 players on May 2. Meadows, 27, is coming back from a broken first season with the Tigers, but his mental and physical health leads him to believe he can produce in the heart of the batting order. to hear this story. He hasnt done anything to lose the job, and before an injury ended his 2020 campaign, he was one of the teams better all-around hitters. Akil Baddoo (LF) Robbie Grossman (CF) Javier Baez (SS) Jeimer Candelario (3B) Miguel Cabrera (DH) Jonathan Schoop (2B) Spencer Torkelson (1B) Victor Reyes (RF) Tucker Barnhart (C) Baddoo and Grossman at the top will give the Tigers chances to get speedy players on base for their powerhouse lineup. Haase could be poised to get more playing time in left field with Riley Greene on the injured list, depending on how much Hinch wants to play matchups against left-handed pitching. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. The future MLB Hall of Famer is now 37-years-old and simply cannot hold up to the workload of being an everyday infielder for the Tigers. Dive deeper into the news and sports stories that matter most with our exclusive podcasts, featuring analysis and reporting from our team of experts. Greiner returned to action a few days ago from a broken nose, thus returning to the catching mix. But he had 10 walks and 12 strikeouts in 21.2 innings last season -- thats atrocious. Three relievers -- Andrew Chafin, Kyle Funkhouser and Jos Cisnero -- will open the season on the injured list, thinning out a relief corps that had been a bright spot by the end of last season. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, earned a roster spot and starting job on the strength of a very good Spring Training that included a mature, disciplined plate approach. Third-base coach Ramon Santiago and assistant hitting coach Mike Hessman were reassigned and offered minor-league coaching positions. Non-roster invitees like Will Vest, Jacob Barnes or Miguel Diaz could make a push for the other bullpen spots. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Comprehensive coverage of Michigan's auto industry, including in-depth analysis of Ford, GM, and Stellantis latest developments and innovations. Troy. Here's an updated look at preseason bowl projections this summer ahead of the 2023 season. Riley Greene takes batting practice during a spring training workout in Lakeland, Fla., on March 15, 2022. Cody Stavenhagen 23 MLB Power Rankings: Rays' reign has ended, plus playoff odds at the halfway mark The Athletic MLB Staff 193 Tigers halt the Nick Maton experiment; Eduardo Rodriguez shows. Start your day off right with our exclusive newsletters, including The Daily Briefing, delivering the latest news and insights straight to your inbox every morning. 2022 stats: .250/.347/.328, 6 doubles, 16 walks, 17 strikeouts in 147 plate appearances. Tarik Skubal, Akil Baddoo and Isaac Paredes. Keep him in the middle and see what happens. Don't miss a beat with our sports coverage, featuring the Lions, Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons, Michigan and Michigan State, as well as exclusive access to USA TODAY Sports+. In the end, the Tigers opted for versatility -- in the bullpen, on the bench and in the field. Were going to assume that teams get an extra roster spot for the month of April and that the Tigers will use it on a pitcher (either by requirement or by choice). When Soto is on his game, you can tell hitters dont have a chance from the very first pitch. He earned it, Hinch said. Everyone knows Baez can hit for power and run the bases at an elite level. But the flexibility of the roster was impacted if we went that direction and had him only be a first baseman/DH, and I have Miggy at first base/DH, and I have Ramos only as catcher, and Im trying to carry five outfielders. When hes cold, its much less damaging from the No. The Tigers arent calling the roster "set" just yet: Theyre still leaving the window open for a player addition in case somebody elsewhere opts out of a contract and catches their eye on the free-agent market. Yes, Boyd will get the nod again on Opening Day, even though 2020 was a disaster. MORE ON VIERLING: How Tigers' Matt Vierling became a 'yes man' in the best way possible, MORE ON GREENE: Tigers won't guarantee Riley Greene as full-time leadoff hitter, center fielder. Teams are able to carry 28 players (29 for doubleheaders), up from 26, from Opening Day through May 1. Cisnero and Soto have certainly passed him in the pecking order. Home > MLB Predicting Every MLB Team's 2023 Opening Day Lineup Joel Reuter August 18, 2022 Aaron Judge (Sarah Stier/Getty Images) For nearly half the league, the 2022 MLB season is essentially. It doesnt promote stability, but it allows Hinch to preserve roster versatility. A lot has changed since we posted our first lineup prediction two weeks ago. With all of these considerations put into place, here is my ideal Detroit Tigers lineup in 2023: (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)AP. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Schoop got off to a miserable start last season but still found a way to finish with solid numbers. Cabrera will get an occasional start at first base, but this is Torkelsons position, now and potentially for the next several years. Outfield: Robbie Grossman, JaCoby Jones, Nomar Mazara, Victor Reyes, Akil BaddooDetroit is carrying five outfielders to accommodate Baddoo, who made such an impression this Spring Training that the Tigers essentially had to keep the Rule 5 Draft pick rather than offer him back to the division-rival Twins. Hinch said a couple weeks ago that the Tigers won't have a dedicated leadoff hitter this season. Faces such as Jeimer Candelario were still glittering with hope, and there was the thought that, yes, Nicholas. Dont be surprised if he gets more than an occasional start at first base. He was seeing improved power and plate discipline heading into 2020, and then turned into a strikeout machine. Right now, the future Hall of Famer is working hard as a leader in the clubhouse for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. Hinch will have to make some tough choices further down the roster. Unlike Haase, he can't play a different position. Let's not mess up a good thing. 2:23. Ultimately the final roster spot could come down to a choice between Hill as the fifth outfielder or Garneau as the third catcher. Determining the projected batting order is surprisingly complicated, so Im going to save that for another day and another story. I reserve the right to change my mind, but for now Im putting both Greene and Torkelson on the Opening Day roster and the everyday lineup. We have some guys that can do a lot of different things, Hinch said. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Dive deeper into the news and sports stories that matter most with our exclusive podcasts, featuring analysis and reporting from our team of experts. If he can bounce back from an ugly 2020 in Chicago, hell be a bargain for this year. His ability to go over to first is still going to be utilized depending on how I play the various infielders, Hinch said. Cabrera is mostly a singles hitter who clogs up the base paths at this point in his career. But much like Baddoo forced his way onto the roster, Castro played his way into Hinchs thought process by playing well all over the infield. Matt Vierling, LF. 5 hole, driving in Meadows and Baez. He came to the ballpark Friday and was waiting for the gates to open at 10: . Major League and Minor League Baseball data provided by Major League Baseball. Once considered the closer of the future, Jimenez is more of a fringy relief pitcher at this point. It is a comprehensive team roster and player names are sorted by the fielding position where the most number of games were played during the regular season. Hinch has been consistent about preferring three catchers all spring. You know he's going to start Opening Day for his last season. Hernndez also looks comfortable at his natural second base position, even without the shift, and has played just four innings at third base. Castro's throws improved as Spring Training unfolded, but he needs to remain consistent with his footwork and mechanics. Vierling also has some serious speed, so he could for a pretty nice leadoff hitter against southpaws. He was one of the teams best players in 2020, and the Tigers are happy to have him back for another season. Hes not necessarily locked into the first base role. Several pitchers are still competing in camp: Will Vest(40-man roster),Beau Brieske(40-man),Garrett Hill(40-man),Edwin Uceta(40-man),Tyler Holton (40-man), Matt Wisler,Trey Wingenter,Trevor Rosenthal, Miguel Daz, Jace Fry andKervin Castro. The Tigers have spent a lot of time teaching baseball awareness on the basepaths, and they want to get back to taking risks, which fits right into Baddoo's style of play. He excelled as a three-inning opener at the end of that season and was arguably the best pitcher in the bullpen for 2020. That impacted Nezs spot to start the season.. 9 hitters in Detroit (and, frankly, many six, seven and eight hitters, too). So far this spring, Paredes numbers remind me a lot of his first taste of MLB action. The Tigers will play soon at Comerica Park, one of three sporting venues . However, rosters will revert to 26 players with a 13-pitcher maximum on May 2. Torkelson has struck out in about one-third of his plate appearances, but thats been a trend every time hes been promoted within the organization. If Peralta doesnt get here in time -- or the Tigers opt to stretch him out in Toledo -- the Tigers would likely seek another pitcher who could give them multiple innings. But this is at least close to what you can expect on Thursday. But Ive always viewed him as a primary third baseman, so thats where hell get most of his reps. Hes easy to like and easy to appreciate when it comes to being an answer to a lot of different things, Hinch said. Those rates havent improved this spring, so even if he breaks camp as the closer, those numbers will catch up to him, and it wont last long. The good news: Al Avila landed a bonafide power bat to the heart of the order. Do you agree? LAKELAND, Fla. Opening Day is 14 days away. It was a small sample size, but 15 strikeouts in 36 spring plate appearances hasnt alleviated any concerns. 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays Watch Now Hinch is keeping Torkelson low in the lineup and will likely continue to do so at the start of the regular season. Whenever MLB's lockout . He hasn't homered this spring, but he's hitting .346 with six doubles, four walks and seven strikeouts in 31 plate appearances. That move will bump Alexander back to his versatile relief role. Nez at first base, I think, could hold his own if given more reps and continuing to work that way, Hinch said. He needs to bounce back if the Tigers want to play competitive baseball throughout the summer months. In a. The eight relievers have six career Major League saves, all from last year -- four from Garcia, two from Soto. Outfielder Riley Greene and. News Sports Autos Entertainment USA TODAY Obituaries . MORE ON MANNING: How Tigers' new-school regime is resuscitating Matt Manning's potential, MORE ON WENTZ: Why Joey Wentz's curveball could be a 'weapon' and launch his rise with Tigers. After a few weeks of camp, Nick Maton looks like more like a starting shortstop than a starting third baseman. If Im playing Harold or Niko at second and I want Schoop at third and Candy at first, I could see that combo working. All UZR (ultimate zone rating) calculations are provided courtesy of Mitchel Lichtman. Start your day off right with our exclusive newsletters, including The Daily Briefing, delivering the latest news and insights straight to your inbox every morning. Once March rolls around, the. The fact that hes only struck out six times in 32 plate appearances is an excellent sign for a player whose main offensive weakness is swinging and missing. As maddening as the Tigers can be in terms of roster decisions (see: Fulmer, Greiner), Baddoo has pretty much taken this decision out of their hands in the spring. Vierling, 26, will be a lineup lock when the Tigers face left-handed pitchers and should receive opportunities to develop against right-handers. 3 Detroit Tigers players most likely to have a breakout season in 2023. dark. Its easy to come away from a game impressed with the 22-year-old only to look at the box score and see he went 0-3 with a walk. Keeping him at the MLB level might be better for his development, though he feels like someone who will get sent down in May, unless his performance improves drastically. Theres a legitimate three-way battle to back up Ramos, but everyone knows who the starter will be. Additionally, there will be no limit on how many pitchers clubs can carry as part of the expanded 28-man rosters. Cabrera has dealt with an array of injuries and isnt a plus defensively, so doing so only behooves the Tigers in that it gives someone else a day off.