Motor City Bengals

Detroit Tigers reliever Michael Fulmer is proof that not all Tommy John Surgery recoveries are created equal. With modern medicine and the continued frequency of these surgeries, fans sometimes assume that a player will be out for 12 months and then return throwing harder than before. In some cases, that certainly is true.

The Detroit Tigers search for a vice president of player development is over as the team announced today in a press release that former MLB first baseman Ryan Garko will be the new vice president of player development. He spent the last two seasons coaching with the LA Angels.

I know what you are thinking. Writing this article for the sake of “boredom” or clicks and that more than likely, these trade partner ideas for the Detroit Tigers will never happen. You are probably correct but for the sake of using our imaginations and looking around the league with the possible new collective bargaining…

Isaac Paredes entered the 2021 season ranked number 6 on our list of the top 20 Detroit Tigers prospects. We certainly weren’t alone in our regard for the young infielder. Baseball America ranked Paredes as one of Detroit’s top-10 prospects in each of the last four years, and he maintained similar status at both FanGraphs…

As the 2021 season winds down, many Detroit Tigers fans are already looking toward the offseason; excited about the prospect of adding some premier talent to complement a club that has largely over-performed this season. There has been a blaring buzz about Chris Illitch’s comments about the impact talent they intend to add–coupled with the…

The Detroit Tigers game with the Chicago White Sox was postponed as it was rescheduled for Monday, September 27th, but the Toledo Mud Hens start a new format in Triple-A baseball with a five-game series down in Louisville against the Bats, the Cincinnati Reds affiliate.

The Arizona Fall League has returned for the 2021 season, and the Detroit Tigers have some interesting options to send to minor-league baseball’s annual proving grounds. The Tigers have continued to play solid baseball deep into September, and they’ve done so with a roster stretched to its limits. Free agents like Wily Peralta, Dustin Garneau,…

The Dominican Winter League is an opportunity for any major league to get a chance to do several things. One, for a young player, to work on their skills during the winter, and two, a chance for a veteran to catch on to a team come spring training and showcase what they have.  In this…

Longtime Detroit Tigers catcher and son of GM Al, Alex Avila announced he will be retiring after the season, according to multiple reports. The left-handed-hitting backstop is with the Washington Nationals this season, putting together a .179./.347/..333 line across 29 games.

If you have to ask a question about a given position group on a baseball team akin to “should the club pursue upgrades this year” the answer is almost certainly “yes”. It’s a safe bet AJ Hinch and his fellow Detroit Tigers front office staffers know this.

The 2021 Detroit Tigers have surpassed expectations in nearly every way, and that, naturally, has fans excited about the future. Rest assured, the staff at Motor City Bengals will spend most of the offseason proffering ideas for how the Detroit Tigers can improve, but why wait a few weeks when we can start talking about…

Heading into the season, the Detroit Tigers Triple-A affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens were a veteran ballclub that had the potential to make noise under the new alignment in Triple-A. They did just that, winning the inaugural Triple-A East Midwest Division title with a 5-1 win over Columbus last night.

The Detroit Tigers hit 70 wins yesterday. That number seems rather arbitrary considering there are a few weeks left in the season but it is quite the accomplishment. For Detroit Tigers fans, it has been a long road back to respectability. The expectations heading into this season were admittedly by us as a staff, somewhat…

It’s been an intriguing summer for followers of the Detroit Tigers organization. The major league club is putting up a scrappy effort night in and night out and more than a few fans are thinking competitive times are looming. Many believe the glaring need is a fixture at shortstop to vault the club ahead in…

As Roberto Clemente Day is celebrated around the league, Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera did his tribute to Clemente as he wore the number 21 in honor of the Hall of Fame outfielder. He was recently nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award, which is given to a player who essentially does outstanding work in the…

Jul 28, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Tigers outfielder Robbie Grossman (8) celebrates his run with outfielder Derek Hill (54) against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

It is no secret that Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch appreciates versatility. Outside of Dustin Garneau and Miguel Cabrera (unless first base and designated hitter count), each player on the active roster can play multiple positions. This type of versatility, even with everyday players, affords the Tigers and Hinch to be creative with playing time…

Brad Ausmus signals to the bullpen and Joe Nathan is called to the bump. Nathan faced four batters, lobbed 20 pitches, earned two walks, and poetically flipped off  Detroit Tigers fans all in the span of one inning pitched.

The Detroit Tigers loaded the Mud Hens just in time with some of the top talents in the system. RILEY GREENE IS MURDERING THE CUBS! STOP THE FIGHT! STOP THE FIGHT! “Throw in the damn towel, Rock!”

This week is the final games of the season for Double-A Erie, High-A West Michigan, and Low-A Lakeland. For Detroit Tigers prospect fans, it is the end of some considerable growth in a system that will be under new supervision in 2022.