Detroit Free Press

Jeff Seidel ,  Evan Petzold   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Tigers top prospect Spencer Torkelson works out at first base Detroit Tigers’ Spencer Torkelson, who shifted to third base after the 2020 MLB draft, practiced at first base Feb. 27, 2021, in Lakeland, Fla. Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla.

Jeff Seidel   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera: ‘I can’t wait to be at first (base) again’ Detroit Tigers veteran Miguel Cabrera talks Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, about his spring training with a new coaching staff. Detroit Tigers LAKELAND, Fla. — We don’t see many capital-S Superstars grow old,

Ryan Ford   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption What Detroit Tigers’ Zack Short thinks about Kody Clemens, Spencer Torkelson Detroit Tigers infielder Zack Short checks in Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, from spring training in Lakeland, Florida. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press Spring training’s slate of games officially starts Sunday with seven Grapefruit League

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — Former two-time American League MVP Miguel Cabrera, the elder statesman of the Detroit Tigers, took batting practice Friday, surrounded by up-and-coming prospects, at Joker Marchant Stadium. And then the soon-to-be 38-year-old explained why his body feels like it did in 2014, just two years after he sat on baseball’s throne as the

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — Two of the most revered milestones in baseball — 3,000 hits and 500 home runs — are of the utmost importance to future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera, entering his 19th season in the majors and 14th with the Detroit Tigers. Currently, the 37-year-old is 134 hits and 13 homers shy of reaching

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — For the first time since last year’s spring training was shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic, Joker Marchant Stadium — the home of Detroit Tigers spring training — felt baseball’s presence. Miguel Cabrera at first base. Spencer Torkelson at third base, with Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal on the mound. They went through

Jeff Seidel | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — This strange, restricted, distant spring training has been reduced to this: Standing behind a chain-link fence, looking through binoculars, gazing across the field and trying to figure out if Spencer Torkelson has a wrap around his injured finger on his throwing hand. Torkelson, one of the Tigers

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers announced the first two starting pitchers of their spring training games, beginning Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland. The first starting pitcher is left-hander Tyler Alexander, manager AJ Hinch said Thursday morning. And when the Tigers hit the road for Tampa on

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — The injury to Spencer Torkelson not only delays his long-awaited debut, but it could also open an opportunity for a few young Detroit Tigers prospects. Torkelson, the Tigers’ No. 1 prospect, was supposed to play Sunday when the team opens Grapefruit League competition in spring training vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at Joker

Evan Petzold   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption Spencer Torkelson ‘obsessed with winning’ for Detroit Tigers, even in minors Detroit Tigers third baseman Spencer Torkelson chats Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, about getting ready for his first real professional season. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers third baseman Spencer Torkelson will miss

Jeff Seidel | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — We interrupt spring training for a fishing story. Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene, two of the Detroit Tigers’ top prospects, went fishing in a pond behind the house they are renting at spring training. And Jake Rogers, their other roommate, went out to watch and pulled up

Evan Petzold   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption How Detroit Tigers’ Casey Mize felt pitching live to batters Wednesday in camp Detroit Tigers pitching prospect Casey Mize pitched Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, against Niko Goodrum, Harold Castro and Greg Garcia in camp. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — Top pitching prospect Casey

Jeff Seidel | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — One Stanford man was heart-broken for another on Wednesday. Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch was rattled after learning that Tiger Woods was seriously injured outside Los Angeles on Tuesday after a rollover accident. “I was sick to my stomach,” Hinch said Wednesday morning. Hinch and Woods both attended

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers infielder Willi Castro recently had his braces removed. He flashed a sharp smile Wednesday afternoon, fielding ground balls and firing them to first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Beyond the braces, the 23-year-old is losing the training wheels. The Tigers are confidently moving forward with him as their

Jeff Seidel,  Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers have traded so many players over the last few years — and they’ve gotten so many back in return — that it’s hard to keep every deal and every player straight. Then, here comes Zack Short, the guy they got last summer in

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — Right-hander Julio Teheran constantly had to fight with his body last season. His arm and his legs weren’t in sync and his mechanics weren’t consistent. Those things are supposed to come naturally. The 30-year-old finished 2020 for the Los Angeles Angles with a 10.05 ERA, 1.755 WHIP, 20 strikeouts

Jeff Seidel   | Detroit Free Press Show Caption Hide Caption Niko Goodrum explains value in versatility, as preached by Detroit Tigers’ AJ Hinch Detroit Tigers utility player Niko Goodrum explains Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, the value of taking on multiple positions under new manager AJ Hinch. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — A

Jeff Seidel, Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — A Detroit Tigers prospect received a stamp of approval from a future Hall of Famer on Tuesday morning. Miguel Cabrera, whose trip to Cooperstown is all but certain, faced prospect Matt Manning in live batting practice on a back field behind Joker Marchant Stadium.

Evan Petzold | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. — If Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal could emulate one thing from Casey Mize‘s arsenal, it would be the nasty splitter that helped the 2018 No. 1 overall draft pick reach the majors. This winter, Skubal went to Driveline Baseball — self-described as the world’s best data-driven baseball player development program — as part

Jeff Seidel | Detroit Free Press LAKELAND, Fla. – Miguel Cabrera was in rare form. “Iiii-eee!” he screamed after an infield drill. Allow me to make a rough translation: Look at the weather, it’s freakin’ perfect. A warm steady breeze, bright blue skies, 80 degrees and big, puffy, lazy clouds dotted the sky. Oh, and one other