Los Angeles — Tigers outfielder Austin Meadows is as routine-oriented as any player in the Tigers’ clubhouse. His set routine, which he follows religiously, doesn’t allow much time before or after games to chat with the media.
Fortunately, his teammates and manager don’t mind talking about him.
“He’s just an all-around great player,” Tigers outfielder Derek Hill said. “He does everything at the plate correct. He does everything in the outfield correct. He’s been a great addition.”
Hill and Meadows nearly collided on a ball in the right-center field gap Saturday night. Meadows ended up sliding to avoid Hill and making the catch.
“That was a close one,” Hill said. “He’s got some range. That’s the first time he’s really gone into the gap with me after a ball. He’s got a lot more range than I thought. I was like, ‘OK, I like it.’ That’s a pretty solid outfield right there with him out there.”
Meadows continues to be the Tigers’ most consistent producer on offense, though he’s going about it a little off-brand for him. He was a slugger in his years with Tampa, hitting 60 home runs combined in 2019 and 2021.
He’s been an on-base machine with the Tigers so far, slashing .328/.434/.422 with 10 walks, 10 strikeouts, eight runs scored and 11 RBIs. He doesn’t chase pitches (22.7%), doesn’t swing and miss a lot (13%, in the top 3 percentile in baseball) and his strikeout rate of 13% is in the top 10 percentile.
His home run total in 76 plate appearances entering play Sunday: Zero.
“I don’t think you think about that,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “Homers are a product of getting good pitches to hit and doing damage. I don’t think anybody can complain about the production we’re getting from Austin. As it warms up around baseball I think you will see more power, more home runs, more quality baseball.
“As long as he keeps helping us every time his at-bat comes up, we will take the home runs when they come.”
Meadows, who had three hits and a walk in Saturday’s 5-1 victory, ripped a single off Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw’s slider in the fourth inning. It was just the second hit Kershaw had allowed with his slider to a left-handed hitter.
Amazing to think the Rays started platooning Meadows last season, sitting him against lefties. He is 7 for 19 against them this season.
“He hasn’t taken any bad swings,” Hinch said, knocking on the wooden bench inside the dugout. “I love how his at-bats are calm. He’s under control. You guys can feel it when you watch him and we feel it in the dugout, that something good is going to happen. He’s in complete control.
“We knew we got a good player when we traded for him and his influence has been felt and his production has been very much appreciated. That’s why he’s in the lineup virtually every day.”
cmccosky@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @cmccosky