Now Playing
Share Video
Link copied!
Top Tigers News
-
Tigers' Javier Baez: Starting in center Saturday
Baez is starting in center field and batting seventh in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.
Baez has seen some time at third base this spring, where he hasn't seen regular-season action since 2019, and he'll now try out center, a position he's never played during the regular season in the majors. The Tigers appear to be preparing the veteran for more of a utility role in 2025, with Trey Sweeney in line to serve as the regular shortstop. Baez's already dwindling fantasy value will take a hit if he's not seeing consistent playing time.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Continuing push for roster spot
Torkelson is impressing offensively and defensively this spring, and he may see time at DH, first base and in right field as a versatile bench option for the Tigers in 2025, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
A year ago, Torkelson was seen as a fixture at first base for years to come in Detroit, but a rough 2024 campaign has added a bit more uncertainty to the picture. He still seems likely to make the Opening Day roster, though he may have to settle for more of a bench role. Torkelson recently started seeing reps in right field, which gives him more potential versatility as a reserve. The biggest key for the 25-year-old remains his ability to make consistent contact, because if he can, he has the power in his bat to have a big impact.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Parker Meadows: Four weeks from throwing
Manager A.J. Hinch said Saturday that Meadows (arm) will require at least four more weeks of rest before he can begin throwing, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Meadows can continue participating in conditioning and fielding drills while he continues to work his way back from a nerve issue in his right arm, but it seems like it will be a bit before he can start throwing. Once given the green light to start throwing and hitting, a clearer timeline for his return to play may emerge.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Casey Mize: Appears locked into rotation
Mize is expected to open the 2025 season as Detroit's No. 4 starter, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The Tigers informed Kenta Maeda that he will begin the season in the bullpen and later optioned Keider Montero, leaving Mize and Jackson Jobe to round out the Tigers' Opening Day rotation. Both players should have some runway with Alex Cobb (hip) expected to miss at least the first month. Mize put up a 1.13 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB in 16 innings this spring, a vast improvement on his regular-season numbers from a season ago (4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 78:29 K:BB in 102.1 innings).
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy: Back in action
Malloy (illness) is in the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.
After turning the page on a stomach bug, Malloy will resume his bid for a bench spot on the Opening Day roster. The 25-year-old has made a compelling case so far, going 13-for-43 in exhibition play, though only three of those hits have gone for extra bases (all doubles).
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Ryan Kreidler: Optioned to Triple-A
Kreidler was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Kreidler hit two homers and drew 10 walks in 19 Grapefruit League games, but it wasn't enough to secure a spot on Detroit's bench to begin the regular season. The 27-year-old has appeared in the majors in each of the past three seasons, topping out at 84 big-league plate appearances in 2022.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Keider Montero: Sent down to minors
Montero was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The 24-year-old righty put together a decent spring, posting a 3.21 ERA, 1.29 WHP and 17: 6 K:BB in 14 innings, but Montero ultimately fell short in his bid for a roster spot. In light of this transaction, Casey Mize and Jackson Jobe appear locked in at the back of the rotation for Detroit.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Jackson Jobe: Makes Opening Day rotation
Jobe is expected to open the season as the Tigers' No. 5 starter, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Kenta Maeda was informed Friday that he will begin the season in the bullpen and Keider Montero was optioned Saturday, which seemingly locks Jobe into the rotation. Jobe, Detroit's top pitching prospect, has made four starts in the Grapefruit League this spring, pitching to a 3.65 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 8:4 K:BB over 12.1 innings. He lines up for a road start in Seattle during the first full week of the regular season.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy: Scratched with illness
Malloy was scratched from the lineup for Friday's split-squad game against the Yankees due to an illness, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The 25-year-old was penciled in to bat leadoff but will instead sit out due to a stomach bug. Malloy likely isn't in danger of missing Opening Day and should be back in action within a few days.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Relief role on tap
Manager A.J. Hinch announced Friday that Maeda (illness) will begin the season working out of the bullpen, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Maeda has been dealing with an illness this week, but there's been no indication it will affect his availability for the start of the season. The right-hander had a 19:1 K:BB across 12.2 innings during spring training, but he served up four home runs and eight earned runs overall. Maeda should serve as a long reliever and potential spot starter when the Tigers deal with rotation injuries.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Beau Brieske: Should be in mix for saves
Brieske has given up four runs with a 5:1 K:BB over six innings during spring training, and he is expected to be an option to close out games for manager A.J. Hinch this season.
The right-hander recorded just one save during the regular season last year but recorded two more in the playoffs as he finished the year as one of Hinch's most-trusted relievers. Including the postseason, Brieske had a 1.91 ERA across his final 37.2 frames in 2024, priming him to fill a high-leverage role this year. Hinch isn't officially expected to name a closer in the near future, but Brieske, Tyler Holton and Jason Foley should be the main options for saves, with Foley being the early favorite after recording 28 saves during the regular season last year.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Progressing in rehab work
Vierling (shoulder) began a hitting progression this week and was cleared Friday to advance his shoulder strengthening exercises, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
The 28-year-old resumed light baseball activities in early March after being shut down due to a strained rotator cuff early in camp, and he's now ramping up his rehab work. Vierling will begin the season on the injured list but could make his season debut sometime in April.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Jose Urquidy: Playing catch regularly
The Tigers announced Tuesday that Urquidy (elbow) has been cleared to play catch up to 105 feet three times a week, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Urquidy underwent the second Tommy John surgery of his career back in June, so he'll have several more checkpoints to reach in the recovery process before he's cleared to make his Tigers debut, perhaps at some point in the second half of the season. Detroit signed Urquidy earlier this month on a one-year, $1 million deal that includes a $4 million team option for 2026.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Alex Cobb: Resumes mound work
Cobb (hip) threw a bullpen session Saturday and is slated to throw another one Wednesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Saturday's session was the first time Cobb has thrown off the mound since he was diagnosed with right hip inflammation at the beginning of spring training. The Tigers had indicated previously that Cobb might be ready to pitch in games by mid-March, but clearly he's not ready for that yet. There's no timetable for the veteran right-hander's return, but he can safely be expected to miss at least the first month or so of the season.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Matt Vierling: Not yet cleared for throwing
The Tigers announced Tuesday that Vierling (shoulder) has been cleared for conditioning work and defensive drills, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Both Vierling and Parker Meadows seem to be at similar spots in their respective recoveries from arm injuries, as the latter has also been cleared for all activity except for throwing and hitting. Until Vierling is able to start playing catch and begin a hitting progression, it may be difficult to project when he'll be ready to make his season debut as he works his way back from a right rotator cuff strain. Once healthy, Vierling should handle a near-everyday role at third base or in the corner outfield.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Parker Meadows: Not yet throwing
The Tigers announced Tuesday that Meadows (upper arm) has been cleared to do conditioning and defensive drills, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The fact that Meadows isn't shut down from activity entirely while he contends with a nerve issue in his right arm is encouraging, but until he's able to start a hitting progression and resumes playing catch, his season debut shouldn't be considered imminent. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch already acknowledged last week that Meadows will open the season on the injured list, likely paving the way for Wenceel Perez to serve as the team's everyday center fielder.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Javier Baez: Likely in line for bench role
Baez is expected to open the season in a bench role with Trey Sweeney likely in line to serve as the Tigers' Opening Day starter at shortstop, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Sweeney hasn't been optioned to Triple-A Toledo yet, and if the 24-year-old sticks in the majors, the Tigers likely won't want him riding the pine instead of developing in the minors. Baez has seemingly kept himself prepared for the possibility of serving in more of a utility role this spring, as he's also been seeing time at third base in addition to his natural spot at shortstop. Baez has struggled mightily since signing a six-year, $140 million deal with Detroit in November 2021, but with three seasons still left on his contract, the Tigers may not be ready to write him off as a sunk cost just yet.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Justyn-Henry Malloy: Continues solid spring
Malloy went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.
While Malloy hasn't gone deep yet this spring, he is batting a solid .308 across 17 contests. Power is the 25-year-old's calling card, but after batting just .203 with a 37 percent strikeout rate as a rookie last year, the team would likely trade in a bit of his slugging ways for more consistent contact at the plate. Malloy may be a bench option for the Tigers to begin the regular season, though he has the upside to seize a larger role as the year progresses.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: Could see regular starts at DH
Torkelson could open the season as the Tigers' regular designated hitter if Kerry Carpenter is used mostly in right field, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
With Parker Meadows (arm) and Matt Vierling (shoulder) slated to open the season on the injured list, Wenceel Perez will shift over to center field and Carpenter might see most of his reps in right field. That opens up the DH spot, and Petzold projects Torkelson to fill it, at least on a short-term basis. Torkelson is coming off a disappointing 2024 season that saw him put up a .669 OPS in 92 regular-season contests, but he's had a nice spring, clubbing four homers in 14 tilts.
... See More ... See Less -
Tigers' Andy Ibanez: Will be short side of 3B platoon
Ibanez is slated to open the season as the Tigers' short-side platoon partner with Zach McKinstry at third base, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Jace Jung was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Monday, setting up an uninspiring McKinstry/Ibanez platoon at the hot corner, at least until Matt Vierling (shoulder) is ready. Ibanez slashed .292/.357/.445 against left-handed pitching last season.
... See More ... See Less
2024 Team Statistical Rankings
| Avg | R | HR | ERA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team |
.234 (23rd) |
682 (19th) |
162 (24th) |
3.61 (3rd) |
Injuries
| Player | Injury |
|---|---|
| P. Meadows CF Parker Meadows CF | Arm |
| M. Vierling RF Matt Vierling RF | Shoulder |
| A. Cobb SP Alex Cobb SP | Hip |
| T. Madden SP Ty Madden SP | Shoulder |
| K. Maeda SP Kenta Maeda SP | Illness |
| Buy Tickets |
|---|