Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Tigers are counting on Spencer Torkelson. It feels like a make-or-break season. When spring training begins Feb. 13, Torkelson — four months removed from the end of a miserable rookie campaign — will control a spot on the Opening Day roster as the everyday first baseman. The 23-year-old could play his way off the team

The Detroit Tigers have hired Tim Federowicz as their catching coach for the 2023 season. He spent last season as the manager for Triple-A Tacoma in the Seattle Mariners organization. Federowicz played 163 MLB games across parts of eight seasons, including 10 games for Tigers manager A.J. Hinch as a member of the Houston Astros

Enrique Jimenez watched a lot of baseball growing up. He primarily studied three players: Yadier Molina, Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera. Two elite catchers; one Venezuelan legend. About 10 years ago, Jimenez asked his father to take him to the local baseball field in Venezuela. That’s when he first picked up a ball and tried

Free Press sports columnists Carlos Monarrez and Shawn Windsor debate about almost everything, especially for their podcast, “Free Press Sports with Carlos & Shawn.” They’ve seen a lot of Detroit sports in recent years, which means they’ve seen … a lot of rebuilding. Here, the guys discuss what, if anything, fans around here have to

It was April 18, 2017. Matt Vierling jogged onto grass at Comerica Park for the first time in his baseball career, patrolling center field for Notre Dame against Central Michigan. He ripped an RBI single through the left side of the infield off right-hander Michael Brettell, now a farmhand in St. Louis Cardinals’ organization, as

Make no mistake, Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris has been thinking about center fielder Riley Greene — a budding star and arguably the future of the franchise — this offseason. Harris had Greene, the 2019 No. 5 overall pick, on his mind throughout the evaluation process for changes to the outfield dimensions at

The Detroit Tigers signed four top prospects on the first day of the 2023 international signing period, which began Sunday: Venezuelan catcher Enrique Jimenez, Dominican Republic outfielder Cristian Perez, Venezuelan outfielder Anibal Salas and Venezuelan shortstop Maikol Orozco. The highest-ranked prospect of the quartet is Jimenez. The 17-year-old switch-hitter finished at No. 32 on MLB

The Detroit Tigers signed right-handed reliever Trey Wingenter, who has pitched three innings between the majors and minors since 2019, to a minor-league contract with an invitation to MLB spring training. Wingenter, 28, underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2020. He pitched three innings in the Arizona Complex League in the 2021 season as part

We owe the Detroit Lions a thank you. No, seriously. We do. And by we, I mean anyone who considers themselves a fan of Detroit’s four major pro teams. The Lions didn’t make the playoffs this season — they could have (should have!?) been playing at San Francisco Saturday instead of Seattle — and that’s

The Detroit Tigers have agreed to terms with their remaining two arbitration-eligible players. Right-handed relievers José Cisnero and Rony García signed one-year contracts Friday, avoiding arbitration, and locking in salaries for the 2023 season, the team announced. Cisnero settled at $2.2875 million — according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman — in his third and final year

Suddenly, Nick Maton started receiving text messages. The news leaked. “It was a big surprise,” Maton said. Last week, the Detroit Tigers acquired Maton, Matt Vierling and Donny Sands from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for closer Gregory Soto and utility player Kody Clemens. The Tigers have spent the offseason searching for controllable position players

Detroit Tigers catcher Eric Haase, who has been attending games at Comerica Park since the venue opened more than two decades ago, received an unexpected text message from manager A.J. Hinch in the team group chat. “Hey guys, check your inboxes,” Hinch told his players. President of baseball operations Scott Harris emailed a briefing about

The Detroit Tigers are moving in the fences at Comerica Park — finally. But the real story is in the details, because they offer a glimpse into how Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris is changing this organization one small — but significant — detail at a time. First, he listens. Then he studies

Another day, another waiver claim for the Detroit Tigers. President of baseball operations Scott Harris continues to stockpile depth in the organization, and on Wednesday, the Tigers claimed right-hander Edwin Uceta off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Uceta, who turned 25 on Monday, has a 6.27 ERA with 19 walks and 38 strikeouts over 37⅓

There will be some noticeable changes at Comerica Park in the 2023 season. The Detroit Tigers, owned by Ilitch Holdings, plan to move in the center-field wall at Comerica Park, the team announced Wednesday. The center-field fence will be moved in 10 feet, making the wall 412 feet from home plate. The height of the

There will be some noticeable changes at Comerica Park in the 2023 season. The Detroit Tigers, owned by Ilitch Holdings, plan to move in the center-field wall at Comerica Park, the team announced Wednesday. The center-field fence will be moved in 10 feet, making the wall 412 feet from home plate. The height of the

Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Saturday — after trading closer Gregory Soto to the Philadelphia Phillies — that the organization was “hard at work” in search of another left-handed reliever. On Monday, the Tigers struck a deal with lefty reliever Chasen Shreve. The Tigers and Shreve agreed to a minor-league contract with an

Detroit Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Saturday — after trading closer Gregory Soto to the Philadelphia Phillies — that the organization was “hard at work” in search of another left-handed reliever. On Monday, the Tigers struck a deal with lefty reliever Chasen Shreve. The Tigers and Shreve agreed to a minor-league contract with an

After the 2022 season, the Detroit Tigers parted ways with hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh and assistant hitting coach Mike Hessman. When that happened, the Tigers offered to reassign Hessman to the minor-league coaching staff. Hessman accepted the demotion. The Tigers officially announced Monday the coaching staffs for their minor league affiliates ahead of the 2023

The Detroit Tigers were ready to flip the page from 2022 to 2023. Scott Harris now embarks on his first season — and first full year — as the Tigers’ president of baseball operations. He joined the organization Sept. 19 and took control of day-to-day operations Oct. 6. So far, his key moves include trading reliever