Tigers' Dillon Dingler: Pops first spring home run
Rotowire
Dingler went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.
Dingler saw 27 games of action during his MLB debut in 2024, and his role figures to grow this year as the presumed Opening Day backup to Jake Rogers behind the plate. If Dingler impresses during camp and gets off to a hot start in the regular season, he could even push Rogers for starting duties, as the former struggled last year with a .197/.255/.352 slash line. Either way, both catchers should have some fantasy utility in deeper formats, though they figure to cap each other's value to a degree while splitting time.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Strikes out three in spring debut
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Mize tossed two scoreless innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He allowed two hits and struck out three.
Mize made the start for the Tigers and helped blank New York along with five Detroit relievers. The 27-year-old was making his return from Tommy John surgery in 2024 and posted a 4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 78 strikeouts across 102.1 regular-season innings. Mize mostly worked as a starter last year, though the Tigers did shift him to the bullpen down the stretch. It's unclear what his role will ultimately be in 2025, but Mize could make a case for locking up a rotation spot with a strong spring. For now, it seems like he's stretching out to start games.
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Tigers' Andrew Chafin: Non-roster invitee
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Chafin signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Monday that includes an invitation to spring training.
A 34-year-old lefty, Chafin had a 3.51 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 70 strikeouts in 56.1 innings in the majors last year split between Texas and Detroit. Tyler Holton and Sean Guenther are the Tigers' top left-handed relievers on big-league deals.
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Tigers' Parker Meadows: Further testing on biceps
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Meadows will undergo further testing on his injured biceps Monday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Meadows tweaked his biceps Saturday. The Tigers do not appear overly concerned about the injury, but more will be known Tuesday when the test results are revealed. Regardless of the test results, Meadows is expected to receive a few days of rest.
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Tigers' Thomas Szapucki: Gets minors deal
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Szapucki signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Szapucki will not be in big-league camp as part of the deal and will likely open the year in the upper minors. He was once a prominent Mets pitching prospect but arm injuries have hampered Szapucki's ability to settle into a role in the majors. A shoulder injury limited him to one minor-league appearance in 2024 and zero appearances in 2023.
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Tigers' Parker Meadows: Managing triceps issue
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Meadows tweaked his triceps Saturday, though the issue isn't seen as a serious concern, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
Meadows started in center field Saturday and went 0-for-2 before being lifted. The triceps injury occurred while he was making a throw, and manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday that the issue doesn't appear to be significantly worrisome. Meadows isn't in the lineup for Sunday's spring contest, though that wouldn't be unusual this early in spring play regardless of an injury concern.
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Tigers' Matt Manning: Struggles in spring debut
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Manning allowed three runs on three hits and four walks across 1.1 innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
Manning followed starter Kenta Maeda, who tossed two scoreless innings, with a rough relief appearance to begin his spring schedule. Of particular concern is the four walks, as the righty struggled with command last season in the majors, posting a career-worst 3.9 BB/9 across 27.2 regular-season innings. The 27-year-old is vying for a roster spot during spring training, but continued struggles could relegate Manning to Triple-A Toledo, which is where he spent most of 2024.
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Tigers' Kenta Maeda: Effective in spring debut
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Maeda tossed two scoreless innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. He didn't allow a hit or a walk and struck out four.
Making his first spring training appearance, Maeda looked comfortable in a starting role, as he breezed through the first two innings of the game. The veteran righty has displayed increased velocity in camp, and that translated into four strikeouts among the six batters he retired. Maeda struggled mightily in 2024, posting a career-worst 6.09 ERA across 112.1 regular-season innings, but a bounceback campaign is possible in 2025. With Alex Cobb (hip) unlikely to be ready for the start of the season, Maeda may have a path to some starts in the early going.
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Tigers' Alex Cobb: Resumes throwing
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Cobb (hip) played catch Friday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Friday marked Cobb's first time throwing since he was shut down earlier this month due to hip inflammation. He is still expected to miss roughly the first month of the regular season, but he said Saturday that his hip feels much better, which is a positive sign.
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Tigers' Akil Baddoo: Undergoes hamate bone surgery
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Baddoo underwent surgery Thursday to address a hamate bone fracture in his right hand, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
His recovery timeline figures to extend past Opening Day and will likely cost him the first month or so of the season. Baddoo was removed from the Tigers' 40-man roster earlier this offseason and is ticketed for Triple-A Toledo once healthy.
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Tigers' Tyler Owens: Making impression in camp
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Owens is looking sharp so far in spring training and could push for an MLB bullpen role this season, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Owens, who was acquired last summer in the trade that sent Carson Kelly to Texas, is just 5-foot-10, but he has a unique delivery and can reach the upper 90s with his fastball. The 24-year-old pitched well following the trade, recording a 2.80 ERA and 35 strikeouts across 35.1 innings with Double-A Erie, and he figures to make the jump to Triple-A this year. Owens is also already on the 40-man roster, so if he continues to pitch well in the minors, his MLB debut might not be too far off as a member of Detroit's bullpen.
Maeda was throwing 92 mph during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
It's up from the 90.8 mph he averaged with his four-seamer last season and significantly more velocity than he was showing during spring training last year. With Alex Cobb (hip) slated to begin the season on the injured list, Maeda has a chance to make the Tigers' rotation out of spring training. That said, after collecting a 6.09 ERA over 17 starts and 12 relief appearances last season, Maeda has a lot to prove this spring. He will start Detroit's Grapefruit League opener Saturday.
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Tigers' Trey Sweeney: Tweaks swing in offseason
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Sweeney said he's made some "minor swing changes" since the end of last season to hit MLB fastballs better, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Sweeney seems focused on timing and working to catch up to fastballs better at the MLB level. He had a .245 average and a 19.8 percent whiff rate against the pitch last year, and all four of his home runs came off of breaking balls. Sweeney could be Detroit's Opening Day shortstop, though veteran Javier Baez (hip) is looming as competition as he gets back to full strength. However, Sweeney could parlay a strong start to the year into some job security.
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Tigers' Gleyber Torres: Should have big offensive role
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Torres is expected to play nearly every day at second base and bat in the top half of Detroit's lineup, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Torres seemed set for a key role when he agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal back in December, and early reports out of camp support this notion. He was the only player taking reps at second base Monday and the team expects him to hit high in the order. Torres served as the Yankees' leadoff man for 56 games during the 2024 regular season, though he also regularly batted fifth or lower in New York's stacked lineup. The Tigers may install Torres as their leadoff hitter, but even if he's not hitting first, the 28-year-old appears primed to fill a key run-producing spot most days. He could be poised for a big season with his new club.
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Tigers' Brendan White: Looks sharp in early going
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White, who missed most of the 2024 season with elbow issues, has been looking good early in camp, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
White logged only 7.1 innings last season across several minor-league levels before getting shut down. The righty then underwent hydrodissection in August for nerve issues. After a lengthy recovery, White is aiming to once again push for a bullpen role with the Tigers. He logged 40.2 innings for Detroit back in 2023 and posted a 5.09 ERA. While getting back to the majors would be a personal victory for White, he's unlikely to be anything more than a low-leverage option.
Lee, who has primarily focused on second base in the minors, has also been seeing some time at third in the early stages of camp, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The Tigers are seemingly working on increasing Lee's positional flexibility, which could expedite his journey to the majors. Third base has some uncertainty in Detroit, as utility man Matt Vierling and youngster Jace Jung are currently the top options. Neither player has the role locked down full time, however, which could open the door for Lee down the road. The 22-year-old slashed .298/.363/.488 with 12 home runs and 16 stolen bases in 87 regular-season games for Double-A Erie last season. He's likely to begin the year with Triple-A Toledo and is not yet on the 40-man roster.
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Tigers' Spencer Torkelson: In the mix for roster spot
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Though Torkelson has been squeezed by some other players on the roster, he could still make the team as a weapon against left-handed pitching, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Colt Keith has been taking reps at first base, which has seemingly pushed Torkelson aside. However, the latter still offers plenty of pop, particularly against southpaws. The Tigers may want that skill as part of their bench when they break camp. Torkelson's fantasy value has certainly taken a hit following a disappointing 2024 in which he batted .219 with a .669 OPS, though he could slowly boost his stock if he makes the team and begins to carve out a regular role. The former No. 1 overall pick did launch 31 home runs in 2023, which points to some of his upside as a slugger, but making consistent contact has been a challenge at the MLB level.
