Detroit Tigers’ ‘hottest topic’? Their outfield dilemma, and how it impacts Nomar Mazara

Detroit Free Press

When Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker went to his bullpen Sunday with two outs in the seventh inning, he picked left-hander reliever Brooks Raley to face Detroit Tigers left-handed hitter Akil Baddoo, a 22-year-old Rule 5 draft pick.

The Tigers had runners on first and second base, and manager AJ Hinch wasn’t short on bench options. Right-handed hitters Miguel Cabrera and Eric Haase were available. Baddoo hits .143 against lefties, but Hinch wanted to test his rookie.

Baddoo slapped a single into right field to tie the game and later used his speed to score the game-winning run on a walk-off safety squeeze bunt from Robbie Grossman in the 10th inning.

“I mean, Akil, we’re trying to build a dude,” Hinch said after Sunday’s 2-1 win in extra innings, for his fifth win in seven games against his old ballclub. “We’re trying to get him comfortable and trying to build somebody that can be a staple in the lineup.”

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The way Baddoo has performed since the beginning of May is one reason for the puzzle that the Tigers must solve in the coming days and weeks. Hinch doesn’t have enough spots for every outfielder to stay in the big leagues. Detroit cut JaCoby Jones from the 40-man roster earlier this season, but the organization still features Baddoo, Grossman, Nomar Mazara, Daz Cameron, Derek Hill and Victor Reyes in the mix for playing time.

“We have a meeting (with the coaching staff) before the first game of every series about the opponent we’re about to play,” Hinch said. “In those meetings, it’s a constant conversation on what we need to upgrade or what we can do better at different positions. I always end it with the looming decisions that are coming.”

Hinch added: “The hottest topic right now is this outfield.”

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For now, the Tigers have four outfielders: Baddoo, Grossman, Mazara and Cameron.

Hill went to the injured list June 10 with a right shoulder sprain; Reyes was sidelined June 3, retroactive to June 2, with a left intercostal strain. They should return from the 10-day injured list soon, with Hill closest to being reinstated. He is wrapping up his rehab assignment in Triple-A Toledo.

“Derek Hill is playing very well and did nothing wrong to get sent down,” Hinch said. “He just got hurt running into a wall making a catch. What do we do with him when he comes back? Victor Reyes is a little further behind. We still haven’t conquered the injury in its totality.”

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Hill, 25, started his rehab assignment June 19 for Low-A Lakeland in Florida. He played four games before jumping to Triple-A Toledo, where he has competed in three games. Reyes, 26, got two games in Lakeland — June 22 and June 24 — but hasn’t played for the Flying Tigers since.

In the majors, Hill has hit .250 (3-for-12) in seven games, adding two walks, three strikeouts, three stolen bases and exceptional defense in center field. Reyes started slow, with a .157 batting average in 27 games, but can play all three outfield positions.

“We’re talking about it,” Hinch said, “and we’re struggling with deciding what to do with our outfield.”

Baddoo and Grossman are locks to stay. Since May 15, Baddoo is hitting .349 (30-for-86) with 22 walks and 21 strikeouts in 34 games. He now bats leadoff for the Tigers against right-handed pitchers. Grossman, 31, is in the first season of his two-year, $10 million contract. He provides leadership and isn’t going anywhere.

Cameron, 24, struggled offensively during 17 games in 2020 — his first taste of the big leagues — but is showing signs of improvement this year with a .256 batting average, three home runs, nine RBIs, three walks and 13 strikeouts over 13 games.

To find a solution when Hill returns, the Tigers might need to dump Mazara.

“There’s some real dilemmas,” Hinch said. “We’re going to have to decide what to do. And it’s a good problem to have when you’re getting pushed by your young players.”

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Through 43 games, Mazara is hitting .207 with three home runs, 16 RBIs, 15 walks and 39 strikeouts. For the Chicago White Sox last season, the 26-year-old logged a .228 batting average, one home run, 15 RBIs, 10 walks and 44 strikeouts.

The Tigers signed Mazara to a one-year, $1.75 million deal in February 2021, but the 26-year-old continues to slump.

“We need Nomar to get going,” Hinch said. “He’s a big left-handed presence with our lineup. I’m trying to stay patient with him as some young guys are pushing him, with Daz and Akil getting quite a bit of playing time. … If we can get him kickstarted, he’ll be a presence.”

In his past 11 games, Mazara has 10 hits in 36 at-bats. To go with his .278 batting average during this span, he chipped in one double, one triple, one home run, four RBIs, six walks and eight strikeouts.

But Mazara could be too late in his push for a revival, or at least he could be nearing the end of his opportunity with the Tigers.

“He’s running into a little bit of a logjam,” Hinch said. “Baddoo is playing incredibly well. Daz Cameron has shown some great flashes and Robbie is our everyday outfielder. To me, it’s not that difficult. It’s just competition. I do think he’s got it in him to bust out and be pretty good.

“He has contributed a tick more in recent games. It is tough when you’re not penciled in there every single day, so you better make the most of it when you can.”

Evan Petzold is a sports reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter

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