The 2025 Tigers Look to Build On Last Season's Gritty Tigs
Here is a 2025 season preview of the Detroit Tigers.
Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
. . . The Tigers have had five Rookies of the Year: Harvey Kuenn (1953), Mark Fidrych (1976), Lou Whitaker (1978), Justin Verlander (2006), and Michael Fulmer (2016). Could pitcher Jackson Jobe join the list in 2025?
. . . Thayron Liranzo, who the Tigers acquired from the Dodgers (along with Trey Sweeney) in exchange for Jack Flaherty at the trade deadline last season, is the Tigers’ #5 prospect (MLB #81 overall).
. . . Hall of Famer Alan Trammell and should-be-Hall of Famer Lou Whitaker made their MLB debut together on September 9, 1977, in a game against the Boston Red Sox. Combined they went 5-for-8.
. . . Last season’s AL Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal, is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and will be trying to build on his 18-4, 2.39 ERA, 228 strikeout, 6.4 bWAR season.
Leading Off
2025 Detroit Tigers Season Preview
By Joe Underhill
Spring training is almost over; the Detroit Tigers have finished their Grapefruit League season and are headed to San Francisco to play two exhibition games against the Giants before facing off with the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers to open the season. As with most teams, the Tigers roster will be in flux for most of the year, and injuries and ineffectiveness will necessitate the “I-75 shuttle” between Detroit and Toledo to run throughout the season. However, now is a good time to look at how the team will look in 2025.
Rotation
The Tigers have announced the opening rotation, with (no shocker) Tarik Skubal being given the Opening Day assignment. He’s followed in the rotation by fellow ace Jack Flaherty, then Reece Olson, Casey Mize, and rookie Jackson Jobe. Waiting in the wings will be veteran Alex Cobb (on a one-year, $15 million free agent contract) and Keider Montero.
Mize, the number one overall pick in 2018, had a magnificent spring, reminding many why he was the top selection in the draft. He came to camp with a firmer split and three variations on his slider, which he is pairing with a fastball that he is commanding well. Jobe is the Tigers highest ranked rookie, and his combination of stuff with steadily improving command and understanding of how to use it, gave him the edge in the rotation battle with Montero and Kenta Maeda (who has been transitioned to the bullpen). In addition to Montero and Cobb, the Tigers also have Sawyer Gibson-Long and José Urquidy coming off long-term injuries, and a number of minor league pitchers hoping to fill in if injuries occur.
Bullpen
Manager A.J. Hinch and the Tigers employed a pitching chaos strategy last season and rode it to a playoff appearance. While Hinch and company would like not to have to do that again this season, they will still expect versatility from their bullpen. In 2024, Tyler Holton pitched in every inning, including starting and closing in the same series.
Hinch doesn’t believe in set roles. Rather, he has a group of pitchers that he views as his “high leverage” guys who he will plug in whenever he feels he needs to be able to shut down a certain part of an opposing lineup. At the front of that group is Holton, along with Beau Brieske, Jason Foley, Will Vest, and recent signings Tommy Kahnle and John Brebbia. There is still an ongoing battle for the last spot in the bullpen, but the group will also include Kenta Maeda, Andrew Chafin, Brenan Hanifee, and Brant Hurter.
The battle here is probably between Chafin (non-roster), Hanifee, and Hurter. The Tigers could choose to have Hurter stretch out as a starter in Triple-A. Both Hanifee and Chafin have had strong conclusions to their spring and could be back in Detroit very quickly if they don’t make the Opening Day roster.
Catchers
The catching position is set with Jake Rogers and Dillon Dingler. Both are excellent defenders and game callers. Offense can be hit and miss, which is why it will be important to keep an eye on Double-A Erie, and prospect Thayron Liranzo. It is unlikely he would make it to the majors even with a long-term injury, but he impressed during his time in big-league camp.
Infield
The starting infield is basically set to begin the season. Colt Keith (first base), Gleyber Torres (second base), Trey Sweeney (shortstop), and Zach McKinstry (third base). With Andy Ibáñez, Javier Báez, and Spencer Torkelson rounding out the backups.
Third base (along with right field) will be a revolving door until Matt Vierling returns from injury, and it will probably see the greatest number of different players taking reps there. Báez will most likely make the team out of spring training as much for his contract as anything else ($73 million stilled owed over the next three years). He will probably see a platoon at short (where he is still a good defender) and get some reps at third as well. The Tigers have also toyed with the idea of having Báez play a little outfield (ala Jose Altuve), so look for Javy to move around the diamond a lot this year.
Ibáñez is one of Hinch’s favorite bench weapons, especially against lefties where he absolutely rakes (.802 OPS in 2024). One of the biggest stories of the spring, however, was the drastic improvement of Spencer Torkelson. He opened camp as a trade candidate or a Triple-A player. All Tork did was hit (.326, 4 home runs, and a .989 OPS), showing the “athleticism” in the batters’ box the Tigers wanted to see. He will have to keep the bat hot, but with the injuries in the outfield, he will probably get a lot of early at-bats from at the club’s DH. The Tigers got him some reps in right field as well, which creates some options if his bat forces its way into the lineup.
Outfield
Riley Greene is the offensive catalyst for the Tigers and played Gold Glove-caliber defense in left field in 2024. The Tigers don’t want to shift Greene to center to replace Parker Meadows, who will be out for at least an additional four-six weeks with a nerve issue in his throwing arm. With Meadows sidelined, either Wenceel Pérez or newly-signed Manuel Margot will most likely get the starting nod in center. Right field will be one of Hinch’s mix and match positions with Kerry Carpenter getting the most at-bats at the position. Carp will also take some swings at DH.
The signing of Margot probably signals Justyn-Henry Malloy and Jahmai Jones will start the year in Triple-A. There is likely to be a lot of movement on the back end of the Tigers roster throughout the season. If Margot’s bat does not perk up, the Tigers will not hesitate to make a move.
Projected Opening Day Line-Up vs. Blake Snell and the Dodgers
1. 2B – Gleyber Torres
2. LF – Riley Greene
3. 1B – Colt Keith
4. DH – Spencer Torkelson
5. RF – Kerry Carpenter
6. C – Jake Rogers
7. SS – Trey Sweeney
8. 3B – Zach McKinstry
9. CF – Wenceel Pérez
10. SP – Tarik Skubal
Joe Underhill is a high school administrator and diehard baseball fan and fan of the city of detroit. Joe currently writes for the HTP Newsletter. You can follow Joe on Twitter @TransplantedDet and @transplanteddet.bsky.social.
Extra Innings
On August 16, 2024, the Tigers were 16 games out of first place. From that date forward, they went 34-17 and climbed into the third wild card spot, one game ahead of the Seattle Mariners. They swept the Houston Astros in the Wild Card round, and went up two games to one, before falling to the Cleveland Guardians in five games in the Division Series.
MLB.com is the only source predicting the Tigers will win the AL Central this season, with various entities predicting them to have anywhere from 76 to 86 wins.
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HERE’S THE PITCH is published daily except Sundays and holidays. Benjamin Chase [gopherben@gmail.com] handles the Monday issue with Dan Freedman [dfreedman@lionsgate.com] editing Tuesday and Jeff Kallman [easyace1955@gmail.com] at the helm Wednesday and Thursday. Original editor Dan Schlossberg [ballauthor@gmail.com], does the weekend editions on Friday and Saturday. Former editor Elizabeth Muratore [nymfan97@gmail.com] is now co-director [with Benjamin Chase and Jonathan Becker] of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, which publishes this newsletter and the annual ACTA book of the same name. Readers are encouraged to contribute comments, articles, and letters to the editor. HtP reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity, and good taste.