Last week, we covered the best pure-hitting prospect in each system, noting that it’s almost impossible to be a Major League regular if you can’t hit. Do you know what’s another way to put yourself over the top? Hit the ball hard. Power can make a .250 hitter into a star or, in some cases,
Detroit Tigers
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The Tigers have enjoyed the buzz of several top prospects climbing national lists in recent years. Detroit had two of MLB Pipeline’s top five prospects in baseball in last year’s preseason rankings in Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson, and Greene was briefly No. 1 before he made his Major League debut last June. Torkelson was
DUNEDIN, Fla. — No Major League center fielder made more diving catches last season than Riley Greene. As George Springer’s fly ball floated into shallow left field Tuesday, Greene — who started in left during the Tigers’ 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays — thought he had a chance at his first of 2023. His
TAMPA, Fla. — A series of career-altering injuries have limited Trey Wingenter to fewer than 10 innings over the past three seasons — and none above Rookie level. But when asked what the Tigers hope to see from the right-hander this spring, the first word from manager A.J. Hinch had nothing to do with Wingenter’s
Andre Lipcius, a third-round pick by the Tigers in the 2019 MLB Draft, is currently knocking on Detroit’s door after ending last season playing third base for Triple-A Toledo as the club’s No. 23 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. He’s also the example of the kind of hitter the Tigers are looking to develop. One of
One of the most intriguing aspects of Spring Training is the position and roster battles each team observes as it determines who will head north to begin the regular season. With these competitions come several dark horse candidates who could crack the Opening Day roster with a strong spring showing. Here’s a look at one
LAKELAND, Fla. — Jake Rogers was passing around cowboy hats to teammates as he walked around the Tigers’ clubhouse Sunday morning. The team apparently had some lying around for a promotional video and gave some to him. As Rogers chatted up Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson, it was impossible to tell he was about to
This story was excerpted from Jason Beck’s Tigers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. No one will replace the late Al Kaline as Mr. Tiger, but fellow Hall of Famer Alan Trammell has forged his own place as a franchise icon on and off
Baseball’s new era arrived as many new eras do. With a lot of intrigue and a little awkwardness. With the excited embrace of some, the miffed objections of others and the ultimate conclusion that the game — and the world — will, indeed, go on. It’s Spring Training, so — as in that show “Whose
LAKELAND, Fla. — As children, Jace Jung and his brother Josh — two future Texas Tech infielders, first-round picks and Top 100 prospects — used to play a version of Guess Who. No mustaches. No eye color. No facial features of any kind. This was a little different than the typical kid’s board game. “We
LAKELAND, Fla. — Kenny and Staci Meadows had just returned home to Georgia from a trip to Florida, where they had helped their sons Austin and Parker get ready for their first Spring Training together with the Tigers while seeing their granddaughter Adelynne. Kenny was still sore from shagging fly balls for his kids as
LAKELAND, Fla. — Colt Keith waited all week for a chance at live batting practice against a Tigers pitcher in Spring Training. His present was a matchup against Matt Manning on Friday morning. By session’s end, he was wearing Manning out. As Keith went pitch-to-pitch against the third-year starter, he was determined not to chase. Not
DETROIT — In 2019, Rochelle Riley decided it was time for a change. After working in newsrooms for more than 30 years, Riley raised a career-altering question to herself. “I asked myself, ‘Do you want to work in a newsroom until it is time for you to retire, then go sit on a beach somewhere?
LAKELAND, Fla. — Amid the quiet of TigerTown’s back fields, the sound was noticeable from Spencer Turnbull as he released his first pitches against hitters since June 2021. It wasn’t as a grunt, but it was louder than the heavy breathing of a pitcher finishing a throwing session in the Florida sun. There was an