Spring Training
The Tigers have ended grapefruit league play with a record of 15-14-3. They had their fair share of good moments and bad. Al Avila and Ron Gardenhire should be happy with the progress made this spring, with the team that they are bringing north, and the prospects that showed flashes in camp. The regular season begins in two days, and the Tigers have set their roster for the opener in Toronto.
Three Takeaways
Miguel Cabrera is healthy, and mashing the ball, which is an excellent sign for Cabrera and the Tigers. He hit five home runs in spring to go along with a .348/.426/.739 slash line. Gardenhire said earlier in spring that he wants to get Castellanos and Cabrera at-bats in the first inning and that is very wise. The more at-bats that those two get, the more runs that the Tigers are going to score. Here is a Cabrera home run for your viewing pleasure:
Yeah, Miggy is ready. #MotorOn pic.twitter.com/n6ZtrxRb5v
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) March 23, 2019
Detroit has found some depth with their starting pitchers this spring. The rotation is: Zimmermann, Boyd, Ross, Moore, and Turnbull. That group will be serviceable this season as long as everyone continues to makes strides during the season. Depth at Triple-A includes Kyle Funkhouser, who enjoyed a very nice spring.
Injuries are something that every team has to deal with throughout the season, and the Tigers are no exception. Detroit announced that Fulmer would miss the entire season to undergo Tommy John surgery. Just the other day, Jacoby Jones was making a play on a ball in centerfield, and he sustained an injury. He is going to miss a few weeks with a shoulder strain.
Those are significant injuries for the Tigers as Fulmer was expected to bounce back this season after knee surgery last season. Jones had a productive spring, and when healthy he is an elite center fielder. That is a big deal especially for the Tigers that have Castellanos and Stewart manning the corner outfield positions.
