Detroit Free Press

Ty Madden stood behind the batting cage, watching Miguel Cabrera take batting practice on Monday afternoon in Comerica Park. Madden, who the Detroit Tigers drafted 32nd overall, had just signed a $2.5 million contract — $242,700 above slot value. And it started to dawn on him. Professional baseball is no longer a childhood fantasy. “I’m

The fans at Comerica Park stood on their feet numerous times. They kept cheering for Miguel Cabrera. He deserved all the ovations. The Detroit Tigers (44-51) swung their way to a 14-0 victory over the Texas Rangers in Monday’s series opener at Comerica Park — behind Cabrera’s three-run double in the fifth inning and two-run single in the

So, when, exactly, do we start worrying about the Detroit Tigers’ rotation? Remember the Opening Day rotation? Matthew Boyd, followed by Julio Teheran (remember him?), Tarik Skubal, Jose Urena and Casey Mize, with Spencer Turnbull on the way and Michael Fulmer waiting in middle relief in case a spot opened up. It wasn’t quite the

Phil Coke, the former Detroit Tigers reliever, pumped his fists and banged the divider in a suite at Comerica Park. “LET’S GO!” he screamed in the eighth inning of Saturday’s second game of a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins. Coke waved his arms, trying to wake up Tigers fans, urging them to get on their

Tyler Alexander laughed as he described himself as a “utility relief pitcher” for the Detroit Tigers in 2021. He doesn’t pitch in high leverage situations, but he isn’t an arm manager AJ Hinch is willing to waste in the late innings of a blowout. Hinch offered a more appropriate title: “Unheralded hero.” “He doesn’t get a lot of love all

What the Detroit Tigers accomplished in the third inning demonstrated exactly how manager AJ Hinch wants to make opposing teams uncomfortable. The high-risk, high-reward style of play is the team’s formula for winning in 2021. Jake Rogers opened the frame with a double down the right-field line. He advanced to third base, thanks to Derek Hill’s

The Detroit Tigers were already wrestling with how to manage their starting rotation without injured frontline starters Matthew Boyd and Spencer Turnbull. The problem swelled in Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader, as Jose Urena exited with a right groin strain. Urena’s timetable to return from the injured list remains unclear. Meanwhile, 24-year-old rookie Casey Mize is facing

From these humble beginnings… Jackson Jobe learned to pitch in a simple unheated barn in Piedmont, Oklahoma, about a 20-minute drive from his home. There was no high-tech analytical equipment that measured spin rates. Just a space heater set up on the floor, one end glowing bright orange, like the back of a jet engine trying

Detroit Tigers rookie Akil Baddoo lost his helmet while rounding first base. He never looked back. Baddoo’s flying helmet often signifies a stolen base, infield single, double or triple. In this situation, he was determined to reach third. Even a small stumble after touching second base didn’t stop him from a stand-up triple with two outs

Thousands of fans streamed into Comerica Park for the Detroit Tigers‘ replacement for winter’s canceled TigerFest, “Detroit’s Biggest Summer Baseball Bash.” It was a chance  to celebrate baseball, and more importantly, a chance to rally around the Tigers’  young pitching core — Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal and Gregory Soto — whom they’d mostly only interacted with through their television screens.

The Detroit Tigers lost another starting pitcher for an unspecified amount of time after Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader at Comerica Park, as right-hander Jose Urena joined Spencer Turnbull and Matthew Boyd on the injured list. Urena, 29, did not return for the fourth inning in the Tigers’ 1-0 win over the Minnesota Twins — which snappedva four-game

When the Detroit Tigers selected high school pitcher Jackson Jobe with the No. 3 pick on Sunday, it kicked off an unprecedented run of draft for Motor City teams: Thanks to NHL expansion, COVID-19 delays to the seasons and MLB’s attempt to put its draft in the All-Star Game spotlight, Detroit teams will take part in

Bill Dow |  Special to Detroit Free Press As part of his series on former Detroit sports figures, Bill Dow caught up with former Detroit Tigers television color commentator Rod Allen. How we remember him From 2003-18, the first Black Tigers broadcaster was the color commentator alongside Mario Impemba on Fox Sports Detroit. The popular

Dana Gauruder  |  Special to Detroit Free Press Watch Video: Detroit Tigers’ Ty Madden ‘surprised’ he dropped in MLB draft The Detroit Tigers’ return from the All-Star break was a washout. Their scheduled doubleheader with the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on Friday was postponed due to inclement weather. They’ll make up one of the games

Dana Gauruder |  Special to Detroit Free Press The Detroit Tigers made a few roster moves Friday morning, ahead of the start to the season’s second half. Going: Outfielder Nomar Mazara has been designated for assignment, with infielder Willi Castro optioned to Triple-A Toledo. Coming: Outfielder Derek Hill and infielder Isaac Paredes are up from Toledo. Mazara, 26, was signed as a free agent

The Detroit Tigers made a few moves Friday morning, ahead of their day-night doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Going: Outfielder Nomar Mazara has been designated for assignment, with infielder Willi Castro optioned to Triple-A Toledo. Coming: Outfielder Derek Hill and infielder Isaac Paredes are up from Toledo, with left-handed pitcher Miguel Del Pozo designated as the 27th man for the doubleheader. Mazara,

Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Tigers’ Gregory Soto reacts to making 2021 MLB All-Star Game Detroit Tigers reliever Gregory Soto talks Sunday, July 4, 2021, after learning he was selected to the AL squad for the 2021 MLB All-Star Game. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press The Detroit Tigers entered the All-Star break 15 games behind

The Detroit Tigers took a kid in this year’s draft. Maybe you think they took the wrong kid — that general manager Al Avila should’ve drafted Marcelo Mayer, a high school shortstop, instead of Jackson Jobe, a high school pitcher. Maybe you’ll be right in the long run. Maybe you’ll be wrong. The key is you’ll have

It was “Thrifty Thursday” at LMCU Ballpark, the home of Tigers High-A affiliate West Michigan, for a doubleheader between the Whitecaps and the Fort Wayne TinCaps  (affiliated with the San Diego Padres), and, well, the Whitecaps were certainly thrifty in allowing hits. In the day’s first seven-inning game, 24-year-old Beau Brieske allowed just two hits in a

If these Detroit Tigers draft picks reach their potential. If they stay healthy. If nothing goes horribly wrong. The Tigers crushed this draft. Granted, I’ve preceded that statement with several if’s and a layer of uncertainty. But the MLB draft is all about potential; and if you view the Tigers’ draft through the potential lens, I