Detroit — Robbie Grossman enjoyed his time with the Tigers. He had a very productive season here in 2021, posting career-bests in homers (23), RBIs (67) and walks (98). He was a quiet, by-example leader in the clubhouse. He liked living in Birmingham and the comfortable commute to the ballpark.
He did not, however, love Comerica Park itself.
“Even as a visiting player, I didn’t like coming here,” he said in 2022, shortly before the Tigers traded him to the Atlanta Braves.
As his offensive production dropped significantly in 2022, Grossman admitted the park dimensions, the defensive over-shifts and the deader baseballs that were being used at that time get into his head.
As you might expect given that as the backdrop, Grossman, who is back at Comerica for three games with the Rangers, wasn’t impressed that the center-field fence has been moved in 10 feet.
“They didn’t move them in very much,” he said, laughing before the game. “It doesn’t really matter. They’re still second to last in homers, right? They didn’t move them in enough.”
Grossman, 33, is off to a solid start with the Rangers. He came in Monday hitting .248 with a .702 OPS. He had six home runs and 29 RBIs.
“I’m staying in Birmingham again,” he said. “It’s nice to be back here. It’s good to walk in and see some familiar faces.”
Tigers manager AJ Hinch laughed when he was told Grossman wasn’t impressed with the dimensions change.
“Yeah, no surprise, there,” he said. “Let’s hope he hits it right in front of the fence if he hits one to the pull side.”
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @cmccosky