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Detroit Tigers observations: Tarik Skubal's offspeed pitch has a fastball look
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- Detroit Tigers observations: Tarik Skubal's offspeed pitch has a fastball look
LAKELAND, Fla. — One of the unusual aspects of live batting practice is the opportunity for instant feedback, from one teammate to another.
On Friday, Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal was pitching in Joker Marchant Stadium against Riley Greene .
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After throwing an offspeed pitch, Skubal stopped.
"What did that look like, Riley?" Skubal shouted from the mound.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.
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"It came out like a heater," Greene said, standing in the batter's box.
Skubal nodded.
At other times, the feedback is more subtle.
After Greene swung and missed against right-handed reliever Jason Foley , Greene looked at him, nodding his head in admiration.
Carson Kelly on fire in two sports
Carson Kelly came out hot on Friday.
Facing left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin for five pitches, the Tigers' backup catcher crushed a home run to left, hit another ball to the warning track and followed with a line shot to right center.
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Then again, he was hot on Thursday, too.
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Detroit Tigers catcher Carson Kelly puts on catcher gear during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024.
Kelly, a catcher, was a member of the winning team in the Tigers' annual golf outing, according to Spencer Torkelson .
"Did we?" Kelly asked, smiling. "We had a good group. We were 16-under."
He was paired with Ryan Sienko , the Tigers' catching coach. This year, the Tigers teed off at Cleveland Heights Golf Course.
"We had a good plan," Kelly said. "One guy would hit one out in the fairway, and then everybody would start bombing until we'd find a good one."
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Kelly grew up around golf.
His father, Mike, was the global brand marketing director for Nike.
"Any fun golf trips?" Kelly was asked.
"We went to the oven in Texas ," he said.
"What's the oven?"
" The oven is where they would cook up ideas," he said. "It was where they would test all the clubs."
So, Kelly grew up messing around with exact replicas of clubs used on the PGA Tour.
But he has a memento from a Tiger of a different stripe — the driver of Tiger Woods, signed by the golfing great.
"We got that in the house, so it's pretty special," he said.
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Kerry Carpenter 's injury
Outfielder Kerry Carpenter suffered a left hamstring strain in Thursday's workout. The hamstring strain, diagnosed as mild, occurred when he rounded second base during baserunning drills.
The timetable for his recovery is unknown.
"I hate that guys get dinged up at the beginning of camp," Hinch said. "He felt a little bit of some soreness, so we pulled him out. Precautionary until we get him further evaluated."
Carpenter won't play in spring training games over the weekend.
"We'll see how long it goes," Hinch said.
First start for Jack Flaherty
Jack Flaherty completed a live batting practice session in Thursday's practice, and on Friday morning, Hinch revealed Flaherty is scheduled to start Monday against the Houston Astros in Lakeland.
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The right-hander, who signed a one-year, $14 million deal this offseason, is scheduled for one inning.
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty throws during spring training at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida, on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024.
Hinch reflected on Flaherty's live batting practice, in which he faced Torkelson, Javier Báez and Colt Keith .
"His conditioning was good because his velocity was up and he was able to hold it for his outing," Hinch said. "I thought his stuff was really good. It all starts with the fastball. When his fastball is good, his other pitches come up. The fastball doesn't mean velocity. The shape of the fastball, and his command and control of it, set up his other stuff."
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Play of the day
Andy Ibáñez hit a long home run off left-handed reliever Tyler Holton in the main stadium. The ball landed and bounced around the picnic tables in left-center, not far from the stadium's "Corona Cabana."
There was no animosity between them. Just friendly banter.
After practice, they walked off the field together.
"You crushed it," Holton said.
Vilade at the plate
The Tigers signed Ryan Vilade , a right-handed hitting utility player, to a minor-league contract in the offseason . The 25-year-old needs to hit for more power to the pull side before he can make an impact in the big leagues, meaning he is expected to start the season with Triple-A Toledo.
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Detroit Tigers infielder Ryan Vilade talks to outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy as they walk towards practice field during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.
"He's been a pretty good offensive player if he could get the ball in the air," Hinch said. "We like that he can move around the field. I said, 'We're going to play you at third, we're going to play you at first and all three outfield positions.' He said, 'What about second base?' He is versatility. His bat-to-ball is really good. We got to get him to hit the ball in the air a little bit more, but his decisions are great."
The Tigers are keeping the options open for Vilade's defensive position as their infield rounds into form.
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"Wherever they need me," Vilade said. "Wherever they need me that day, I'm going to go out there and do my thing."
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold . Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com . Follow him @seideljeff .
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple , Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers observations: Riley Greene delivers verdict on pitchers
