Detroit Free Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers lost to the Tampa Bay Rays, 9-5, on Monday at Tropicana Field. The Tigers also lost to the Baltimore Orioles, 11-7, in their other split-squad game at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. The Tigers are 10-9 in Grapefruit League play. What happened Spencer Torkelson continues to hit the ball

Apple Podcasts | Spotify • Hosts: Mark Gorosh (@sportz5176) and Evan Petzold (@evanpetzold) • Editor: Robin Chan • Executive producers: Anjanette Delgado, Kirkland Crawford • Email: epetzold@freepress.com On this episode: This week, we continue our spring training coverage of the Detroit Tigers. Co-hosts Mark Gorosh and Evan Petzold talk the improvements and lack thereof for certain members of the potential roster. Is there a silver

NORTH PORT, Fla. — Former Detroit Tigers reliever Joe Jiménez sipped a cup of coffee and tapped his phone while sitting in the chair at his locker inside the Atlanta Braves’ clubhouse. He’s wearing new colors in a new environment for the first time in his professional career. It’s an odd look. “It was a surprise

LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins, 8-7, on Sunday at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Tigers are 10-7 in Grapefruit League play. What happened Left-hander Matthew Boyd needs to keep doing what he’s doing. “He was very good,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He’s extra hard on himself that

LAKELAND, Fla. — Mason Englert was hiding in a bathroom stall, crouched over, his head between his hands, his thoughts racing, his heart pounding. The walls closing in. For several days, he couldn’t eat anything or sleep for more than an hour or two. Crippled with a panic attack. Struggling to breathe. Feeling nauseous. Englert

LAKELAND, Fla. — It was March 14, 2017, and Puerto Rico, led by a middle-infield tandem of Javier Báez and Francisco Lindor, controlled a 3-1 lead with two outs in the eighth inning against the Dominican Republic in the second round of the World Baseball Classic. What happened next was one of the greatest defensive plays

NORTH PORT, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers beat the Atlanta Braves, 16-7, on Saturday at CoolToday Park. The Tigers are 9-7 in Grapefruit League play. What happened Right-hander Matt Manning started for the third time in spring training. The 25-year-old, who now has a 14.21 ERA, allowed five runs on six hits and two walks with

LAKELAND, Fla. — Team Venezuela manager Omar López, also the first base coach for the Houston Astros, has a close relationship with Miguel Cabrera. They’re currently working together in the World Baseball Classic. On Friday, López announced Cabrera as the team’s captain. Cabrera, one of the best right-handed hitters in baseball history, has expressed interest in

LAKELAND, Fla. — There’s an old joke that might apply to the Detroit Tigers this season. Two guys are walking in the woods when they see a bear. The first guy bends down calmly to fix his shoelaces. The second guy says, “Are you crazy? You can’t outrun a bear!” “I don’t need to outrun

LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers lost to New York Yankees, 4-3, on Friday at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Tigers are 8-7 in Grapefruit League play. What happened Right-hander Spencer Turnbull sounded confident warming up in the bullpen. “Oh yeah, that feels good,” he told catcher Eric Haase. Turnbull was talking about

LAKELAND, Fla — Back in February, Jace Jung, the Detroit Tigers‘ second baseman of the future, had a conversation with Jonathan Schoop, the current second baseman. “He just told me to be aggressive,” Jung said. “And have fun. Because when you stop enjoying this game, you know it turns into a job. You want to

LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling suffered a right knee strain earlier this week. The organization didn’t provide a timetable for his return to games, but considering he is returning to baseball activities over the weekend, the 26-year-old seems unlikely to miss significant time in spring training as long as he makes progress in

LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson demolished a pitch to the deepest part of center field in his first at-bat of spring training. It would have been a home run in the new dimensions at Comerica Park, but not at Joker Marchant Stadium. The center fielder tracked the fly ball for a 415-foot

BRADENTON, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-7, on Thursday at LECOM Ballpark. The Tigers improved to 8-6 in Grapefruit League play. What happened Both teams failed to score until the third inning, when Akil Baddoo put the Tigers ahead 1-0 by stealing home during a rundown. Left-hander Rich Hill caught Ryan Kreidler

LAKELAND, Fla. — One of the biggest upsets in the history of the World Baseball Classic took place Thursday inside the historic Tokyo Dome in Japan as Australia stunned Korea, 8-7, in the first game of Pool B play. The thriller started with Jack O’Loughlin, a 22-year-old left-hander who pitches in the Detroit Tigers‘ organization. He

Apple Podcasts | Spotify • Hosts: Shawn Windsor (@shawnwindsor) and Carlos Monarrez (@cmonarrez) • Editor: Robin Chan • Executive producers: Anjanette Delgado, Kirkland Crawford • Email: swindsor@freepress.com On this episode: This week, Carlos is down in Lakeland, Florida, to see how the Tigers are warming up for a new season with new hopes. Shawn and Carlos talk Miguel Cabrera’s farewell season and which pieces of the

LAKELAND, Fla. — I came to Florida to feel old, which is strange, since Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth isn’t that far from TigerTown. But Phil Nevin was calling from his way to the ballpark in Arizona and was talking to me about his kid Tyler, a 25-year-old corner infielder and outfielder who’s battling

LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers beat the Washington Nationals, 2-1, on Wednesday at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Tigers improved to 7-6 in Grapefruit League play. What happened A simple walk gave the Tigers an opportunity. Zack Short worked a leadoff walk against right-handed reliever Jackson Rutledge in the sixth inning. The next

LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers third baseman Tyler Nevin, in the thick of a fierce competition for a spot on the Opening Day roster, removed himself from batting practice Tuesday and reported soreness in his oblique. The 25-year-old is receiving further tests. “He’s going to get an MRI and get checked out,” Tigers manager A.J.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Earlier this month, Detroit Tigers infielder Andy Ibáñez packed his bags, left the spring training facility and boarded a flight. He ended up across the Pacific Ocean in Taichung, Taiwan. His absence takes place amid an intense battle for a spot on the Opening Day roster. The Tigers need a right-handed hitting