Detroit Tigers' Opening Day roster: One question for all 26 players to open 2024 season

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Detroit Tigers' Opening Day roster: One question for all 26 players to open 2024 season

Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press · Detroit Free Press

Thu, Mar 28, 2024 ·

14 min read

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The Detroit Tigers are ready to start the 2024 season.

The 26-man roster includes five starting pitchers, eight relief pitchers, two catchers, six infielders and five outfielders. Opening Day is 4:10 p.m. Thursday against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

The Tigers finished 78-84 last season for second place in the American League Central, nine games behind the Minnesota Twins . The Tigers — entering their fourth season under manager A.J. Hinch and their second season under president of baseball operations Scott Harris — haven't advanced to the postseason since 2014.

HIM: How Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal matured into an Opening Day ace

Here's the 26-man Opening Day roster, with one big question about every player:

Catchers (2)

Carson Kelly

Age: 29. MLB debut: 2016.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: .206 batting average, 2 home runs, 13 RBIs.

Can he become a No. 1 catcher?Kelly is a trusted game caller and a steady presence behind the plate. He went to a one-knee setup to improve his receiving under the guidance of a new catching coach. He improved his bat speed and changed his swing mechanics under the guidance of new hitting coaches. The Tigers signed him and picked up his club option for a reason. If Kelly hits, the playing time is there for the taking.

Jake Rogers

Age: 28. MLB debut: 2019.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: .221, 21 HR, 49 RBIs.

Can he repeat his 20-homer performance?The Kelly-Rogers combination has been described as a catching tandem by Hinch, but if Rogers — an above-average defender who crushes left-handed pitching — wants to get the bulk of the workload, he needs to hit right-handed pitchers better than Kelly. Last season, Rogers hit just .215 with 21.4 plate appearances per home run against righties, compared to .235 with 12 PAs per homer against lefties. The Tigers have worked with Rogers to improve his game calling.

Infielders (6)

Javier Báez

Age: 31. MLB debut: 2014.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: .222, 9 HR, 59 RBIs.

Anything left in the swing?It was a not-so-good spring training for Báez, following two not-so-good seasons with the Tigers. His third season with the Tigers can produce better results if he gets on time for fastballs again. Even if his bat is dead, the Tigers are hopeful that he will be a steady defender at shortstop, which means cleaning up the accuracy of his throws. He always makes the unbelievable plays, but he needs to stay focused on his footwork to make the routine plays.

Detroit Tigers third base coach Joey Cora practices with infielder Andy Ibañez during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.

Andy Ibáñez

Age: 30. MLB debut: 2021.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: .264, 11 HR, 41 RBIs.

How many starts will he make?Ibáñez rakes against left-handed pitchers, so it will be interesting to see if he cuts into the playing time of Colt Keith , a left-handed hitter, at second base early in the season. For the most part, Ibáñez is going to come off the bench against lefty relievers, but when a lefty is starting, the Tigers will want to get him as many trips to the plate as possible.

Colt Keith

Age: 22. MLB debut: 2024.

Bats/throws: Left/right.

Stats in 2023 (in minors): .306, 27 HR, 101 RBIs.

Is Keith an AL Rookie of the Year contender?Keith has shown an ability to hit right-handed and left-handed pitchers: a .939 OPS against righties and a .909 OPS against lefties. He is expected to grow into an everyday player at second base, if he isn't already, early in the season. As long as that happens, Keith will be well on his way to living up to the long-term contract he signed before his MLB debut.

Zach McKinstry

Age: 28. MLB debut: 2020.

Bats/throws: Left/right.

Stats in 2023: .231, 9 HR, 35 RBIs.

Will Carpenter-inspired mechanics boost results?McKinstry, who plays infield and outfield, took a page out of Kerry Carpenter 's book in the offseason when he implemented a variation of Carpenter's swing. He wanted to get more reaction time and create more damage by staying sturdy in his back leg before swinging. McKinstry, a Gold Glove finalist in the utility category last season, had 10 walks in 47 plate appearances in spring training, but most of his hits were singles.

Spencer Torkelson

Age: 24. MLB debut: 2022.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: .233, 31 HR, 94 RBIs.

Can he hit for average?Torkelson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, experienced a breakthrough with 31 home runs last season, but his batting average and on-base percentage were low. As the first baseman, he also struggled defensively on balls in play that forced him to range toward second base. Torkelson can take the next step if he boosts his batting average by executing his approach against different types of pitchers.

Gio Urshela

Age: 32. MLB debut: 2015.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: .299, 2 HR, 24 RBIs.

A new normal for Urshela's production?Urshela used to drive the ball, but he hasn't shown an ability to do so consistency since recovering from a broken pelvis suffered in mid-June. The Tigers hope Urshela performs like his 2022 version — hitting .285 with 13 homers — rather than the 2024 version so far lacking any pop in the bat. If he drives the ball, expect him to start most of the games at third base.

Outfielders (5)

Mark Canha

Age: 35. MLB debut: 2015.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: .262, 11 HR, 62 RBIs.

Anything more than leadership?Canha commands an elite .364 on-base percentage across the past six seasons, ranking 23rd of 155 players with at least 2,000 plate appearances in that stretch. The veteran, known for healthy swing decisions, is already sharing his wisdom with the young hitters, but he needs to be productive to stay in the daily lineup. That starts with continuing to get on base.

Kerry Carpenter

Age: 26. MLB debut: 2022.

Bats/throws: Left/right.

Stats in 2023: .278, 20 HR, 64 RBIs.

How much playing time in the outfield?Carpenter has improved his defense over the past couple of seasons, but he wants to be an everyday option in the corner outfield positions. His below-average range restricts him to right field at Comerica Park, which could be occupied by Canha. If he stays healthy, he will get enough opportunities at the plate to reach 30 homers, but most of those opportunities might be as the designated hitter.

Riley Greene

Age: 23. MLB debut: 2022.

Bats/throws: Left/left.

Stats in 2023: .288, 11 HR, 37 RBIs.

Can Greene stay healthy?Greene has suffered three injuries in the past two seasons: a right foot fracture in April 2022, a left fibula stress reaction in May 2023 and a right elbow sprain in September 2023. Two of the injuries, including the non-throwing elbow, required surgery. When healthy, Greene is the Tigers' best player, but he must avoid the injured list. He got stronger and put on weight in the offseason.

Parker Meadows

Age: 24. MLB debut: 2023.

Bats/throws: Left/right.

Stats in 2023: .232, 3 HR, 13 RBIs.

Can Meadows be an above-average hitter?Meadows is an above-average defender in center and an above-average runner on the bases. He hit .256 with 19 home runs over 114 games in Triple-A Toledo last season. Translating those results to the big leagues, while maintaining his above-average walk rate, will put Meadows on the fast track to being one of the best center fielders in baseball. The Tigers seem cautiously optimistic about his offense and love his defense, so expect a long leash.

Matt Vierling

Age: 27. MLB debut: 2021.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: .261, 10 HR, 44 RBIs.

Can Vierling finally pull the ball?Vierling spent the offseason tweaking his swing in search of power to the pull side. A new approach helped him tap into his pull-side power in September last season, and as the next step in the process, he implemented new mechanics, in which he starts the movement of his hands early in the load of his swing. If Urshela struggles, Vierling could steal opportunities at third base against right-handed pitchers.

Rotation (5)

RHP Jack Flaherty

Age: 28. MLB debut: 2017.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: 8-9 record, 4.99 ERA, 144⅓ innings.

Is Jack back?Flaherty, who received National League Cy Young and MVP votes in 2019, made significant strides in spring training with the Tigers. Learning about the way his body is supposed to move on the mound and repeating his optimal delivery created velocity boosts with his fastball and slider, which could help him reclaim his elite status. His fastball averaged 94.2 mph in spring training, up from 93.1 mph last season.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenta Maeda, left, fist bumps pitcher Jack Flaherty during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024.

RHP Kenta Maeda

Age: 35. MLB debut: 2016.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: 6-8, 4.23 ERA, 104⅓ IP.

Can Maeda help Casey Mize ?Maeda's splitter features sharp downward movement and is the most effective pitch in his mix. He has mastered the art of deception with his fastball and splitter, and after joining the Tigers, he incorporated a second slider shape. The Tigers like that Maeda is confident filling up the strike zone with all of his pitches. Maybe Casey Mize, who also throws a splitter, could learn from the way Maeda throws his nasty split.

RHP Casey Mize

Age: 26. MLB debut: 2020.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: Did not play (elbow surgery, back surgery).

How far does his best fastball take him?Mize, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick, needs his fastball to set up his secondary pitches, including his splitter. His fastball is the best it has ever been, both in velocity and movement. His fastball averaged 95.4 mph in spring training, up from 93.4 mph in 2022. Mize missed all of last season while rehabbing from elbow surgery and back surgery, but thanks to his improved fastball, he is ready to prove he can be a frontline starter when healthy.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal talks to pitcher Reese Olson during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024.

RHP Reese Olson

Age: 24. MLB debut: 2023.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: 5-7, 3.99 ERA, 103⅔ IP.

Can Olson repeat what he did in September?Olson utilizes his changeup and slider to attack the strike zone from multiple angles, leverage deception and keep hitters guessing. He is confident throwing both secondary pitches to right-handed and left-handed hitters in any count, allowing him to protect his hittable fastball. He had everything working throughout his five starts in September last season, posting a 1.44 ERA across 31⅓ innings.

LHP Tarik Skubal

Age: 27. MLB debut: 2020.

Bats/throws: Right/left.

Stats in 2023: 7-3, 2.80 ERA, 80⅓ IP.

Is Skubal an AL Cy Young contender?Skubal is one of the elite pitchers in baseball. The rest of the industry will catch on eventually this season, as long as Skubal stays healthy. In 2023, Skubal was worth 3.3 fWAR from his July 4 return (from flexor tendon surgery) through the Oct. 1 season finale, ranking No. 1 among pitchers. His high-velocity fastball, nasty changeup and ability to throw all of his pitches in the strike zone makes for a highly anticipated 2024 season that could result in some personal hardware.

Bullpen (8)

LHP Andrew Chafin

Age: 33. MLB debut: 2014.

Bats/throws: Right/left.

Stats in 2023: 3-4, 4.73 ERA, 51⅓ IP.

Was last season just a fluke?Chafin posted a 3.05 ERA from 2017-22, and then he had a season to forget in 2023. He returned to the Tigers, with whom he thrived in 2022 with a 2.83 ERA across 57⅓ innings, and showed up two weeks early to spring training in search of better results. Walks were an issue last season, but in spring training, he didn't issue any. That's a positive sign.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Alex Faedo works out during spring training at Tigertown in Lakeland, Fla. on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.

RHP Alex Faedo

Age: 28. MLB debut: 2022.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: 2-5, 4.45 ERA, 64⅔ IP.

Can the slider carry him?Faedo has bounced between Detroit and Toledo as a starter over the past couple of years, but finally, the Tigers have shifted him to the bullpen full time. His fastball plays up in velocity and ride as a multi-inning reliever, and he might have the best slider on the roster. Mastering a third pitch — his new changeup — would help him against left-handed hitters, but he can dominate righties.

RHP Jason Foley

Age: 28. MLB debut: 2021.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: 3-3, 2.61 ERA, 69 IP.

Should Foley be the closer?Foley doesn't miss bats and struggles against left-handed hitters. He isn't the perfect fit to finish games, but he could be the best choice because he throws strikes. Foley posted a 5.4% walk rate last season, much better than Alex Lange 's 15.6% walk rate. The Tigers can't afford another year of a closer who doesn't throw enough strikes, even if he doesn't miss many bats.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tyler Holton throws during spring training at TigerTown in Lakeland, Fla. on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024.

LHP Tyler Holton

Age: 27. MLB debut: 2022.

Bats/throws: Left/left.

Stats in 2023: 3-2, 2.11 ERA, 85⅓ IP.

Is he going to regress?Maybe Holton will be the closer because he can throw six pitches for strikes in any count. Right-handers hit .209 with a .642 OPS; left-handers hit .147 with a .363 OPS. Regardless of his role, Holton has an opportunity to establish himself as one of the premier multi-inning relievers in baseball. He surprised the Tigers with his dominant performance in 2023. Doing the same in 2024 would generate national attention.

RHP Alex Lange

Age: 28. MLB debut: 2021.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: 7-5, 3.68 ERA, 66 IP.

Can Tigers trust him as the closer?The Tigers need a reliever who throws pitches inside the strike zone in the ninth inning. That's the opposite of what Lange did for most of last season, despite racking up 26 saves in 32 opportunities and flexing a nasty swing-and-miss curveball. From June 4 through Aug. 31, Lange logged a 6.35 ERA with 30 walks (a 21.6% walk rate) over 28⅓ innings in 30 appearances. If he wants to be the closer, he needs to work ahead in counts. That starts with a first-pitch strike.

RHP Shelby Miller

Age: 33. MLB debut: 2012.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: 3-0, 1.71 ERA, 42 IP.

How high is Miller's ceiling?Miller has evolved from a dominant starter to a bad starter to a bad reliever to a dominant reliever. He incorporated a splitter into his mix as a reliever last season and had his best year since the mid-2010s, when he made the All-Star team in 2015 as a starter. Walks project to be an issue, but the development of his splitter to complement his unique fastball opens the door for him in high-leverage innings, and if he throws strikes, he might even emerge as the closer.

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Will Vest pitches during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Lakeland, Florida.

RHP Will Vest

Age: 28. MLB debut: 2021.

Bats/throws: Right/right.

Stats in 2023: 2-1, 2.98 ERA, 48⅓ IP.

Will the real Vest stand up?Vest posted a 4.00 ERA with a 23.2% strikeout rate in 2022 and a 2.98 ERA with a 28.1% strikeout rate in 2023. He took a step forward over the past two seasons, so there's no reason why he can't take another step in 2024. All three of his pitches — fastball, slider, changeup — have produced elite underlying metrics, but not always at the same time. If he puts it all together, and if his delivery doesn't break down, he could be this year's breakout reliever.

LHP Joey Wentz

Age: 26. MLB debut: 2022.

Bats/throws: Left/left.

Stats in 2023: 3-13, 6.90 ERA, 105⅔ IP.

How long does Wentz stay?Wentz struggled as a starter last season, but he found his way onto the roster for three reasons: He doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, his fastball has improved since adjusting his arm slot and tweaking his wrist position, and the Tigers want to evaluate his performance out of the bullpen, which was impressive in spring training. If Wentz hadn't made the roster, he likely would have been scooped up off waivers by a different team.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .

Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple Podcasts , 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' 2024 Opening Day: One question for all 26 players

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